THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIVIL  V['AR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


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THE 


THREE    SCOUTS. 


BY 


J.    T.    TROWBRIDGE, 

AUTHOR    OF     "  CUDJO'S    CAVE,"    "  THE    DRUMMER-BOY,"    ETC. 


BOSTON: 
J.    E.    TILTOX    AND    COMPANY. 

1865. 


'  Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1864,  by 
J.    T.    TROWBKIDGE, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


STEREOTYPED   BY 

C-.    J.    PETERS    <fc    SON 
No.  13  Washington  St. 


PijESS  OF  Geo.  C.  Kand  &  Aveky. 


CON-TENTS. 


I.      • 

A  SPUTHEEN  UNION  MAN 7 

II. 
GOBBLED   UP 19 

III. 
A  STRANGE  EIDE 27 

lY. 

•THE  CONSCRIPT    ......  , 34 

Y. 
THE  MAN  FROM  THE  NORTH 44 

YI. 

THE  FORTUNES  OF  ENOS  CRUMLETT    .» 56 

YII. 

THE  RETURN  OF  THE  GUERILLAS 69 

YIII. 
OLD  FRIENDS 78 


603292 


4  CONTEXTS. 

IX. 

THE  RESCUE 


X. 

A  CHA2s'CE  FOR  A  SPECULATION 95 

XI. 

THE  PEDDLER  BOY 110 

•    XII. 

CARL'S  ADVEXTUTIE 11.'2 

XIII. 

p:nos  falls  ixto  temptation 132 

XI  Y. 

POMP  FINDS  EMPLOYMENT 112 

XY. 

FRED   AND  POMP  DISPOSED  OF 152 

t 

XYI. 

WHAT  BECAME  OF  FRED 164 

XYII. 
WHAT  HAPPENED  TO  POMP  AND  OTHERS 170 

X  Y  I  I  I  . 
THE  KIDNAPPER'S  PASS 180 

XIX. 

A  DANGEROUS  LEAP    .- 186 


CONTENTS.  6 

XX. 

FRED  MAKES  ACQUAINTANCE  WITH  A  LASSO 195 

XXI. 
A  TALK  IN  THE  DARK 209 

XXII. 

A  NIGHT  IN  THE  WOODS.  — THE  MORNING   " 218* 

XXIII. 
OLD  COMRADES,  AND  THEIR  ADVENTURES 229 

XXIV. 
THE   MAN  IN  THE  CASK 245 

XXY. 
MR.   CRUMLETT'S   SUBSTITUTE 250 

XXVI. 

A  STRANGE  MEETING 4 262 

XXVII. 

FLIGHT  AND  FLTISUIT 271 

XXVIII. 
THE  DISCOVERY 279  * 

XXIX. 

OLD  JOEL'S  HATCHET 289 

XXX. 

DANIELS 302 

1* 


6  CONTEXTS. 

XXXI. 

THE  COUET-MARTIAL 320 

XXXII. 

A  CAPTURE  AN'D  AX  ESCAPE 329 

XXXIII. 
THE  rmST  ATTACK 336 

XXXIY. 

INDIAN  WAEFAKE 349 

XXXV. 

TO  NASHVILLE.  — A  SURPRISE 3G3 

X  X  X  Y I . 

THE  SPY - 371 


THE   THREE    SCOUTS, 


I. 


A  SOUTHERN  UNION  MAN. 

N  the  borders  of  a  deserted  estate  belonging  to 
a  wealthy  secessionist,  some  Federal  pickets  were 
one  evening  making  themselves  at  home. 
Around  them  were  all  the  evidences  of  desolating  war,  — 
neglected  fields,  demolished  fences,  and  orchards  converted 
into  stump-lots.  In  their  front,  stretching  southward,  was  a 
wild  region  of  wooded  ridges,  concealing,  not  far  off,  the 
rebel  outposts,  and  threaded  by  daring  scouts  of  both  armies 
by  night  and  day.  A  few  miles  distant,  in  the  opposite 
direction,  was.  the  city  of  Nashville,  beautiful  in  the  sunset- 
light,  its  lofty  capitol  gilded  with  faint  gold,  and  its  church- 
spires  pointing  heavenward  as  peacefally  as  if  the  din  of  war 
had  never  been  heard  in  the  land. 


8  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

It  was  early  in  the  month  of  December,  18G2,  wben 
tlie  Army  of  the  Cumberland  under  Rosecrans,  and  the 
rebel  army  under  Bragg,  confronted  each  other.  The  nights 
were  chill,  and  the  soldiers  were  kindling  a  fii-e  in  some 
confiscated  rails. 

"  Pile  on  the  sticks,  boys !  Rebel  fences"  make  good 
Union  fires !  "  said  a  tall  fellow,  stretching  himself  comfort- 
ably upon  the  gi'ound. 

*'  Pile  'em  on  yom-self,  Jake/'  querulously  said  the  oldest 
of  the  party,  —  too  old  to  be  called  a  boy  (the  others  named 
him  "Old  Joel"),  but  that  all  were  *'boys"  in  the  regi- 
ment, "  You  needn't  lay  there,  and  tell  the  rest  on  us  what 
to  do." 

"  That's  always  Jake's  way,"  said  the  youngest  of  the 
group,  —  a  boy  indeed,  scarcely  sixteen  yeai's  of  age,  with 
almost  too  tender  a  young  face  for  the  rough  company  he  was 
in.  "I  knew  him  at  home.  '  Lazy  Jake '  is  his  name 
there.  He  always  showed  a  fine  talent  for  lying  down,  and 
telling  others  what  to  do." 

"How  happened  it,  then,"  said  Jake,  laughing  good-na- 
turedly, "  that  I  raised  such  crops  on  my  place?  " 

"  Crops?  You  did  raise  the  noblest  crop  of  weeds  ever  / 
saw !  I  remember  a  gi'ovc  of  pig-weeds  right  before  your 
front   door,    about   as   tall   as   those   cedai's.      You'd   ^iavep||. 


A    SOUTHERN    UN'ION   MAN.  9 

laughed,  boys,  to  see  how  carefully  he  used  to  walk  around 
them,  rather  than  take  the  trouble  to  pull  them  up  !  " 

**  I  didn't  raise  any  corn,  did  I,  Fred  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  and  your  mother  used  to  hoe  it  while  you  were  loaf- 
ing about  the  tavern."  Jake  winced  at  this  severe  hit,  and 
looked  sharply  at  the  merry  youngster  who  was  exposing  him 
so  unmercifully.  "  The  way  you  used  to  get  it  husked  was 
to  make  a  bee,  and  invite  us  young  fellows  to  come  and  help 
you,  then  tell  stories  and  sing  songs  to  keep  us  amused  till  the 
work  was  done.  He  could  work,  though,  boys,  if  he  was  a 
mind  to.  He  used  to  think  every  thing  of  Cy,  and  go  over 
and  lounge  in  the  fields  where  he  was  ploughing  or  mowing. 
But  Cy  wouldn't  have  him  around,  unless  he  would  help ; 
so  he  used  to  make  him  diive  the  horses,  or  spread  the  hay 
after  him,  to  pay  for  his  company.  My  mother  used  to  say, 
*  Jake  Evarts  had  rather  work  for  Cy  Thm'ston  for  nothing, 
than  for  himself  for  a  dollar  a  day.'  " 

Jake  blushed  fiery  red,  and  raised  himself  upon  his  elbow ; 
his  hps  parting  and  his  eyes  kindhng.  But  when  he  saw 
Fred's  innocent,  laughing  face,  his  resentment  cooled ;  or  else 
he  was  too  lazy,  as  old  Joel  suggested,  even  to  get  angry  in 
earnest.  * 

"  Fred  is  young,"  said  Jake,  his  lips  relaxing  with  an  in- 
dulgent  smile.      "He   is   privileged   to   say  just   what  he 


10  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

pleases  ;  and  you  can  believe  just  as  much  of  what  he  says  as 
you  like." 

"  If  they  don't  believe  me,  they  can  ask  Cy,"  said  Fred. 
"  There  he  comes  now  !  " 

**  With  a  reg'lar  Southern  Union  man  alonp;  with  him  !  " 
said  old  Joel  sarcastically.  "  That's  a  fire-eater  that's 
taken  the  oath,  I'll  bet  my  rations.  Always  know  them 
chaps ;  and  I'd  give  about  as  much  for  their  patriotism  as 
I  would  for  the  fui-  that  grows  on  a  rail." 

"  Hello,  Cy  !  what  you  got  there?  "  said  Jake  with  lan- 
guid curiosity. 

"  Oh  !  only  a  secessionist  I've  picked  up.  The  last  of  an 
unlucky  family ;  all  been  killed  before  him ;  he's  been 
spared  till  now  on  account  of  his  tender  years;  but  the 
necessities  of  the  service,  you  know,  boys!  Ain't  he  a 
handsome  feller?"  And  Cy  showed  proudly,  not  the 
stranger  at  his  side,  but  a  pig  which  he  had  speared, 
and  brought  away  triumphantly  on  the  point  of  his  bay- 
onet. 

"Bully  for  you,  Cy!"  cried  Jake,  rousing  up  with  an 
interest  which  imparted  unusual  energy  to  his  athletic  frame. 
"Ain't  very  fet,  though,  is  he?     Let's  see." 

"Roast  pig  is  Jake's  favorite  flower,"  laughed  Fred. 
"Have  you  arrested  that  man,  Cy?"  —  with  a  glance  at 
the  stranger. 


A    SOUTHERN    UNION   MAN.  11 

*'No,"  said  Cy;  "he  has  got  a  pass.'* 

**  Cy,"  said  old  Joel,  "is  it  true,  Fred  Rivers's  mother 
said  Jake  'u'd  nither  work  for  you  for  nothing  than  for 
himself  for  a  dollar  a  day?" 

"If  she  did,"  said  Cy,  "it  wasn't  a  great  ways  from 
the  truth." 

"  I  thought  so !  and  that's  what  made  him  redden  up 
so,"  said  old  Joel. 

"■  Or  else  it  was  because  she's  a  pretty  young  widow," 
said  Cy.  "Jake's  always  sensitive  about  what  the  women 
think  of  him." 

"Is  your  mother  a  widder,  Fred?  I  thought  you  said 
'tother  day  she  wan't  a  widder;"  and  old  Joel  eyed  the 
boy  inquisitively.     "How's  that?" 

It  was  Fred's  turn  to  blush,  this  time.  It  was  a  mo- 
ment before  he  raised  his  eyes.  AVhen  he  did  so,  they 
met  the  eyes  of  the  stranger  who  had  come  in  with  Cy. 
He  was  a  singularly  quiet  man  in  his  demeanor,  but  with 
a  face  full  of  resolution,  and  eyes  that  burned  with  a 
deep  and  steady  intensity  of  gaze.  At  least,  such  was 
their  expression  at  the  instant  Fred  looked  up.  For  a 
moment  longer,  the  boy  forgot  to  answer  Joel's  question, 
surprised  and  embarrassed  by  those  eyes  :  so  Cy  answered 
for  him. 


12  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

»' 

"Ye  see,  she  passes  for  a  widow;  aud  I  guess  she 
don't  know  but  what  she  is  one." 

"  Oh  !  "  said  Joel,  ** parted  from  her  husband,  has  she? 
That's  nothing  uncommon.  I've  parted  from  my  wife 
about  fifty  or  sixty  times;  but  somehow  we  never  could 
stay  parted  :  one  or  t'other  or  both  on  us  —  gen'er'y  both 
—  was  always  foolish  enough  to  want  to  tiy  living  to- 
gether agin.  Habit,  you  know;  that  kind  o'  gits  to  be 
second  nater."     And  Joel  lighted  his  pipe,  and  puffed. 

"  I  showed  you  the  way  to  the  turnpike,  stranger,"  said 
Cy.  "Didn't  I  make  myself  understood?  Shall  I  show 
you  again?  " 

"No,  I  thank  you;  don't  trouble  yourself,"  replied  the 
stranger  indifferently.  And  instead  of  moving  on,  as  Cy 
evidently  expected  him  to  do,  he  coolly  seated  himself  on 
a  rail  by  the  fire. 

Cy  sat  down  too,  and  commenced  dressing  the  pig.-  Joel 
in  the  mean  time,  with  the  curiosity  of  one  who  had  had  much 
experience  on  the  subject,  was  questioning  Fred  about  the 
separation  of  his  parents. 

"  If  you  must  know,"  broke  forth  Fred,  smarting  with 
ii-ritation,  "my  mother  was  from  New  Hampshire.  She 
maiTied  a  Kentuckian." 

"  That's  curi's  !  "  said  old  Joel.  "  How  did  they  ever 
git  acquainted?" 


A     SOUTHERN    UNION   MAN.  13 

m 

"She  was  living  in  Hanover;  and  he  was  a  student 
there,  in  Dartmouth  College,  She  went  home  with  him, 
and  found  herself  mistress  of  twenty  slaves.  That  was  the 
trouble,  I  suppose.  My  mother  did  not  like  the  institution ; 
my  father  did.  So  they  agreed  to  disagree.  One  summer 
she  took  me  North  with  her  on  a  visit,  and  forgot  to  take 
me  back  again.  Since  then  we  have  been  living  "With  my 
uncle  in  Illinois  ;  and  my  father  has  been  taking  care 
of  his  twenty  slaves,  I  suppose." 

*'  Wal,  he's  had  enough  to  do  the^e  times,  to  take  care 
o'  that  kind  o'  prop'ty,  I  guess!"  said  old  Joel,  "But, 
seems  to  me,  if  I'd  been  in  her  j^hice,  I'd  have  stuck  to 
him  and  the  slaves;  fact,  more  slaves  the  better.  I  be- 
lieve," he  added  complacently,  "it's  always  the  women 
that  are.  m  the  wrong,  when  there's  family  trouble." 

Fred  looked  up  with  spirit.  "My  mother  wasn't  in  the 
wrong  \  You  don't  know  any  thing  about  it,  old  Joel ! 
She  is  a  woman  of  principle.  She  thought  slavery  was 
a  sin ;  and  whether  it  was  or  not,  since  she  thought  so, 
she  did  right  to  take  herself  and  me  away  from  it  as  she 
did." 

"But  hain't  you  never  heard  from  your  father?  Hain't 
he  done  nothing  to  support  ye  ?  " 

"It  isn't  his  fault,  if  he  hasn't.     He  commenced  send- 


14  THE    THREE    SCOl^S. 

ing  my  mother  money,  after  she  left  him ;  but  she  sent  it 
all  back  again.  It  was  '  the  price  of  sin,'  she  said,  and 
"wouldn't  have  any  thing  to  do  with  it." 

*'  Wal,  that's  more  principle'n  I've  got,  I  allow !  "  said 
Joel.  "  If  money  was  throwd  upon  my  hands,  I  be  hanged 
if  I'd  throw  it  back  agin,  if  ^ticas  arnt  by  slaves.  Though 
your  fafher  was  a  bad  man,  I  suppose?" 

''Just  the  contraiy,"  said  Fred  with  strong  feeling. 
' '  He  was  a  very  good  man,  in  most  respects ;  and  I 
know  my  mother  loved  him.  And  if  it  hadn't  been  for 
the  curse  of  the  institution,  and,  I  suppose,  a  good  deal 
of  pride  and  temper  on  both  sides — well,  no  matter  what 
might  have  been !  "  And  Fred  arose  with  an  excited  air, 
and  walked  about. 

"Slavery  has  caused  a  good  many  troubles  and  sepa- 
rations," remarked  Cy  over  his  pig.  "It's  been  the  oc- 
casion of  the  biggest  kind  of  a  family  jar  in  Uncle  Sam's 
house.  But  I  guess  the  two  parts  of  the  couutry'U  do 
as  old  Joel  and  his  deary  have  done  so  many  times,  — 
come  together  again,  and  be  better  friends  than  ever. 
Don't  you  think  so,  stranger?" 

The  man,  who  had  been  sitting  for  some  time  with  his 
eyes  fixed  on  the  ground,  slowly  raised  his  head. 

"Did  you  speak  to  me,  sir?" 


A     SOUTHERN    UNION    MAN.  15 

"  Yes,  I  did.  I  take  it  you  belong  in  these  parts.  And 
fjom  the  remai-k  you  made  about  destroying  private  prop- 
erty, when  I  was  confiscating  this  pig,  I  judge  your  sym- 
pathies are  more  on  t'other  side  of  the  secession  fence 
than  on  ours." 

"You  ai-e  mistaken,  permit  me  to  say,"  was  the  quiet 
reply.     *'I  told  you  I  was  a  Union  man." 

"I  know  you  did.  But,  if  you  had  true  Union  gi-it, 
you  wouldn't  have  thought- it  such  a  pity  that  a  miserable 
rebel  pig  should  go  to  comfort  good  patriot  stomachs." 

The  man  smiled  ii'onically.  "As  for  Union  grit,  few 
men,  I  reckon,  have  made  greater  sacrifices  for  the  country 
than  I  have.  I  have  been  persecuted,  driven  from  my 
home ;  I  have  seen  my  own  buildings  fired,  and  crops  de- 
stroyed, by  guerillas,  assisted  by  my  own  neighbors.  I 
was  rich ;  now  I  am  homeless,  —  a  poor  man,  —  my  family 
scattered.  Do  you  wonder,  then,  that  I  say  such  things 
are  a  pity?  For  you  ai^e  much  mistaken,  my  friend,  in 
supposing  I  alluded  to  your  pig." 

This  little   speech,   uttered  with   calm  dignity,  yet  with 

an  undeitone  of  earnest  feeling,  made  an  impression.     Fred 

halted  in  his  walk,  and  stood  regarding  the  stranger  with 

cui-ious  interest.     The  man  looked  up  :  again  their  eyes  met. 

"You  are  young  for  the  business  you  are  in,  my  lad !  " 


16  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

And  once  more  the  bronzed  Southern  face  lighted  with  a 
smile,  —  not  of  irony,  this  time. 

"  I  shall  he  older  before  it  is  done,"  Fred  replied. 

*'  So  you  will,  so  you  will !  "  said  the  stranger  sadly. 
"  The  country  needs  all  her  able-bodied  men  in  this  crisis, 
but  not  her  young  boys." 

''If  the  men  won't  go,  then  the  boys  must,"  said  Fred. 
"  That's  what  I  told  mother.  '  I'll  go,'  said  I,  '  and  shame 
'em.'  " 

"  And  she  gave  her  consent  ?  " 

"Of  course  she  did,  —  though  not  till  she  saw  it  was 
no  use  to  refuse  it.  TVe  lived  with  my  uncle,  and  I'd 
never  done  any  thing  for  myself,  or  her,  or  anybody ;  but, 
when  the  war  broke  out,  I  Ijelieved  my  time  had  come. 
'  Mother,'  said  I,  '  don't  you  say  a  word  ;  for  I'm  going  into 
this  war,  boy  as  I  am.  It's  what  I've  been  waiting  for/ 
said  I  :  '  now  I'm  going  to  do  something  for  my  country,  and 
pay  all  debts  that  way.'  " 

"  And  didn't  she  oppose  you  ?  " 

"  Oppose  me?"  Fred  laughed,  with  a  tear  in  his  eye. 
"My  mother  is  a  woman  that  likes  to  have  her  way  about 
as  well  as  I  like  to  have  mine.  And  I  was  all  she  had, 
ye  know  :  that's  what  made  it  hai-d  for  her.  '  But  mother,' 
says  I,  '  other  mothers  have  had  to  let  their  sons  go.     You 


A    SOUTHERN    UNION    MAN,  17 

ain't  the  only  one.  But  I  wouldn't  ask  you,  if  I  didn't 
believe  this  is  what  God  designed  me  to  do.'  That's  the 
way  I  talked,  and  finally  she  let  me  go." 

Fred's  voice  quite  failed  him  as  he  spoke  the  last  words  ; 
but  he  winked  the  tears  from  his  eyelashes,  and  laughed. 
He  was  evidently  proud  of  his  mother,  and  liked  to  spealv 
of  her,  except  when  questioned  by  old  Joel.   - 

The  stranger  had  arisen  from  his  seat  on  the  rail.  He 
took  the  boy's  hand. 

"  You  have  got  the  right  spirit.  I  like  a  lad  that  stands 
by  his  mother.  Don't  do  any  thing  to  shame  her,  and  you 
will  do  well.     Good-by,  my  boy!" 

'*  What !  going,  stranger?  "  said  Cy. 

*'  Yes  :  I  have  business,  unfortunately  ;  or  else  I  would 
stay,  and  show  you  what  a  good  Union  man  I  am  by  eating 
a  slice  of  your  confiscated  pig."  And  the  stranger  walked 
away  in  the  direction  of  the  turnpike. 

"I  guess  he's  all  right,"  said  Cy ;  "though  I  own  he 
kind  of  riled  me  at  first." 

**  Wal,  Cy  Thurston  !  "  said  old  Joel.  **  I  thought  more 
o'  your  common  sense  thali  all  that !  That  man  is  a 
pesky  rebel  spy,  I'll  bet  my  rations.  They  all  pretend 
to  be  good  Union  men;   they  all  have  stories  to  tell  about 

2* 


18  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

being  parsecuted,  and  druv  from  their  homes,  prop'ty 
destroyed,  and  all  that.  What  do  you  think,  my  boy?" 
"I  think  he  is  a  man  who  knows  his  own  business  a 
great  deal  better  than  we  can  guess  it,"  replied  Fred, 
watching  the  dark  form  of  the  stranger  as  he  walked  over 
the  western  ridge  into  the  fiery  eye  of  the  sunset. 


GOBBLED     UP.  19 


n. 


GOBBLED    UP. 

LD  Joel's  suspicions  would  certainly  have  been 
confirmed  had  he  watched  the  progress  of  the 
stranger  beyond  the  ridge.  Reaching  the  turn- 
pike-road, he  turned  southward,  passed  the  picket  guard, 
and,  hastenmg  on  at  a  rapid  pace,  entered  the  rebel  lines 
before  dark. 

The  sun  set  upon  the  city;  upon  the  white  tents  of 
the  patriot  camps  encircling  it,  stretching  for  miles  over  the 
sombre  hills  like  a  chain  of  snow-drifts;  and  upon  the 
lonely  sentinels  of  the  distant  outposts.  Night  came  on. 
The  soldiers  in  their  canvas  city  slept ;  while  far-away 
mothers,  sisters,  wives,  in  their  comfortable  homes,  dreamed 
of  the  loved  ones  here. 

Did  Fred's  mother  sleep  that  night?  Did  she  dream 
of  her  darling  boy  resting  upon  the  hard  ground  with  those 
of  the  guard  who  rested,  or  watching  with  those  who  watch- 
ed?    Did   she  see  him  start  from  deep  sleep  late  in  the 


20  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

night,  and,  leaping  up  with  his  comrades,  answer  to  his 
low-spoken  name? 

They  are  going  to  relieve  the  sentinels.  The  fires  are 
out,  and  in  silence  and  darkness  they  proceed  along  the 
shadowy  side  of  the  ridge.  They  mount  towards  its  crest, 
in  the  du-ection  of  some  dwarfish  trees  faintly  defined 
against  the  dim  sky.     Suddenly  a  voice  beyond  challenges. 

"Halt!"     The  party  halts. 

"  Who  goes  there  ?  " 

"  Relief,"  is  the  low  response. 

"  Advance,  sergeant,  with  the  countersign." 

The  sergeant  advances,  and  whispers  the  magic  word  in 
the  ear  of  the  challenger.  The  latter  in  turn  whispers  it 
in  the  ear  of  the  soldier  who  relieves  him.  The  new  sen- 
tinels take  theu'  places ;  the  old  ones  fall  into  the  rear  of 
the  relieving  party,  as  it  marches  on.  Then  all  is  silence 
again  on  the  dark  crest  of  the  ridge. 

Fred  is  stationed  near  some  low  cedar-trees  that  screen 
the  pickets  there  from  the  enemy's  observation.  He  is  not 
alone  :  he  has  old  Joel  for  a  companion.  There  is  no  moon, 
and  but  few  stars  are  visible.  What  a  strange,  silent, 
lonely  night !  Nobody  knows  how  near  the  enemy  is.  He 
may  be  far  away  m  those  woods  yonder;  or  he  may  be 
dangerously  close,  —  within  a  few  rods. 


GOBBLED    UP.  21 

Fred  moves  continually  about,  examining  the  ground. 

"Didn't  ye  hear  nothing?"  whispers  old  Joel.  *' A 
crackling  noise  down  there  in  the  holler  !  " 

They  listen  :  not  a  sound  !  Fred  crouches  low,  in  order 
to  discern  against  the  sky  any  object  ihat  may  be  moving 
near.  He  puts  his  ear  to  the  ground.  Footsteps !  There 
is  somebody  approaching.     Two  or  three  forms  are  visible. 

"Halt!     Who  goes  there  ?  " 

"  Patrol." 

"Stand!     Advance   one  with  the  countersign." 

The  countersign  is  right.  The  patrol  asks  a  few  ques- 
tions, and  moves  on.     Again  silence. 

"There'll  be  an  attack  along  the  line  here,  somewheres, 
about  daylight,"  prognosticates  old  Joel.  "  There  always 
is  after  one  o'  them  spies  has  been  around." 

"Do  you  mean  that  Union  man  Cy  brought  in?  He 
was  no  spy  !  "  says  Fred. 

*'  Bet  my  rations  on  that.  'He's  in  the  rebel  camp,  long 
'fore  this.  I  believe  Southern  Union  men  are  a  humbug, 
gen'ly  ;  and  the  whole  pass  system  is  wus'n  the  dense.  I 
wouldn't  grant  one  o'  them  chaps  a  pass  to  go  where  they 
please,   any  more' n  I'd —     Was  that  noise  anything?" 

"Only  the* wind:  it  is  rising  a  little." 

"By  time!   there's  something!   see  it!" 


22  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

*'  Challenge  it !  "  says  Fred. 

Joel  challenges.  No  response.  He  is  about  to  fire, 
when  Fred,  v?ho  can  scarce  restrain  his  laughter,  stops 
him. 

"It's  nothing  but  a  bough  waving  in  the  wind!" 

"So  I  thought,  when  I  challenged  it,"  says  the  old  man  ; 
"  but  it's  always  well  to  be  sure." 

Slowly  the  moments  di-ag.  The  stars  grow  dim.  The 
dawn  is  not  far  off.  What  thoughts  come  to  the  boy  sol- 
dier as  he  watches  there?  —  his  mother,  who  loves  him, 
and  whose  life  would  be  left  so  desolate  if  any  accident 
should  happen  to  him !  the  deadly,  terrible  war ;  (and 
when,  when,  will  it  ever  end?)  the  strange  sense  of  lone- 
liness and  mystery  that  fills  him  as  he  hstens,  and  looks 
up  at  the  far,  dim  stars ;  and,  beating  under  all,  a  wild 
pluse  of  ambition,  as  he  thinks  of  the  glory  which  may  be 
won. 

Hark !  what  is  that  ?  Surely  a  sound  of  hoofs,  dis- 
tant, moving  slowly  as  with  cautious  approach. 

"  Jake  !  "  whispers  Fred  ;  "  a  troop  of  horse  !  " 

"It's  only  our  videttes,"  says  Jake  languidly.  "You 
and  old  Joel  are  always  seeing  bug-bears." 

A  small  stream  flows  thi'ough  a  ravine  in  fi'ont  of  the 
picket  line.     Beyond  that  tha   ground  is  broken  and  par- 


GOBBLED      UP.  ^  23 

tially  wooded.  Ridge  and  hollow  are  beginning  to  appear 
faintly  defined  in  the  early  December  twilight.  Fred  strains 
his  eyes,  gazing  to  catch  the  first  indication  of  a  movement 
in  that  direction.  Suddenly,  crack  !  crack !  The  enemy 
has  been  discovered  by  pickets  farther  down,  and  been 
fired  upon. 

The  reports  are  a  signal  of  alarm  to  the  outposts. 
They  also  serve  as  a  signal  to  the  enemy  that  his  approach  is 
perceived.  Instantly  the  muffled  sound  of  hoofs  breaks 
into  a  clatter,  a  clash,  —  a  galloping  headlong  rush  over  the 
hillsides,  down  the  slopes,  —  crash,  crash,  through  the 
thickets !  plash,  plash,  into  the  water !  and  crack,  crack, 
flash,  flash,  all  along  the  line  of  pickets ! 

*'Told  ye  so!"  cried  old  Joel.  "I  said  there'd  be 
an  attack." 

"  Nothing  but  a  little  cavalry  dash  !  "  says  Jake,  alert. 
"Don't  ye  run!"  (Jake  is  decidedly  averse  to  running.) 
"  I  don't  beheve  there's  going  to  be  much  of  a  shower  !  " 

"They  have  dashed  into  our  boys  below!"  cries  Fred. 
"FaU  back,  or  we  shall  be  cut  off." 

"Don't  ye  run,  I  tell  ye!"  reiterates  Jake.  "The 
boys  down  there  will  look  out  for  themselves.  It's  only  a 
little  squad  of  guerillas :  stand  our  ground,  and  we'll  cap- 
ture the  whole  caboodle  of  'em  !  " 


24  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

The  firing  is  rapid,  but  irregular.  Pistol-shots  mingle 
with  rifle-shots.  Then  the  clash  of  sabres,  —  shrieks, 
shouts,  yells.  The  pickets  fall  back  upon  their  guard,  — 
Jake  and  his  companions  with  the  rest,  but  more  slowly  than 
some,  —  too  slowly ;  for  suddenly  the  rebel  cavahy  are 
upon  them.  Having  dashed  into  the  line,  and  captured  a 
few  prisoners,  they  wheel,  and  make  a  swoop  to  take  in  what 
stragglers  they  can.  Here  they  come,  a  swift,  tumultuous 
troop,  yelling,  with  sabres  in  air. 

"Rally  by  fours!"   shouts  Jake. 

There  is  an  attempt  to  rally;  but  it  is  useless.  "What 
can  a  few  scattered  bayonets  do  against  such  an  impetuous 
charge  of  cavahy? 

"  Quarter  !  "  cries  old  Joel,  throwing  down  his  musket, 
and  throwing  up  his  hands. 

"Blast  the  luck!"  growls  Jake,  following  the  discreet 
example. 

Fred  does  the  same ;  but  he  has  fired  first,  emptying  one 
saddle. 

They  have  yielded  just  in  time.  The  rebels  surround 
them,  more  like  demons  than  men,  —  spui-ring,  brandishing 
their  sabres,  and  drivmg  them  furiously  down  the  slope, 
into  the  water,  and  into  the  thickets  across  the  stream. 

A  body  of  Federal  cavalry,  with  an  infantry  support,  soon 


GOBBLED     UP.  25 

comes  cLarging  after  them.  The  pursuit  is  kept  up,  with 
occasional  skirmishing  in  the  rear  of  the  raiders,  until  a 
strong  force  of  rebels,  advancing  to  their  protection,  charges 
in  turn,  and  drives  the  pursuers  back. 

"3Iy  mother!  —  what  will  she  think?"  is  Fred's  bitter 
reflection,  when  all  hope  of  rescue  is  over.  "  There  isn't 
much  glory  in  this,  is  there,  boys  ?  " 

"It's  rascally,"  says  Jake,  "to  make  men  travel  this 
way !  " 

"It's  better'n  being  mowed  down  on  the  spot  with  them 
pesky  sabres,"  says  old  Joel.  "Hanged  if  I  didn't  think 
'twas  all  over  with  us,  one  spell.  It's  all  owing  to  that  spy. 
But,  boys,  there's  one  thing,  —  we  may  live  to  see  him 
ketched  and  hung,  yet !  " 

These  words  are  uttered  at  inteiTals,  with  panting  breath  ; 
for  the  poor  fellows  are  well-nigh  exhausted  with  their  forced 
march.  The  pursuit  over,  the  rebels  slacken  their  pace ;  and 
two  or  three  of  the  prisoners,  who  have  been  wounded,  are 
taken  upon  horses. 

"I'll  take  this  boy  behind  me,"  says  one.  "Mount, 
youngster ! ' ' 

Fred  is  seized  by  the  collar  :  Jake  gives  him  a  boost,and 
he  is  mounted  behind  the  horseman.  "They  think  I'm 
wounded,"  he  says  to  himself;  "but  never  mind  the  mis- 
take I  " 


26  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"Here!  hello!  I'm  disabled!"  says  Jake,  hugely  dis- 
contented with  his  forced  march.  '*  Give  us  a  lift,  can't 
ye?" 

"I'll  give  you  a  slash  over  the  head,  if  ye  don't  keep 
quiet!  "  answers  one  of  the  guard,  pricking  him  on  with  his 
sword-point. 


A     STRANGE    RIDE.  27 


III. 


A  STRANGE  RIDE. 

RED  had  not  ridden  far  behind  the  horseman, 
when  he  perceived  that  he  was  becoming  sepa- 
rated from  his  companions.  They  were  hun-ied 
on,  closely  guarded ;  while  the  man  who  had  him  in  charge 
gradually  fell  into  the  rear. 

"  That  was  rather  a  neat  operation,  Daniels,"  said  an 
officer,  reining  up  beside  them.  He  was  a  brigandish-look- 
ing  man,  with  long  black  hair,  and  a  face  almost  hidden  by  a 
thick  beard,  out  of  which  advanced*  a  stout  red  nose.  He 
appeared  garnished  all  over  with  pistols  :  there  were  pistols 
stuck  in  his  belt,  and  pistols  in  his  holsters,  besides  a  formida- 
ble pair  which  he  wore  in  the  legs  of  his  boots. 

"  Very  neat,  indeed,  captain,"  replied  the  man  in  a  voice 
that  sounded  strangely  famihar  to  Fred's  ear. 

"Is  that  boy  badly  hurt?"    asked  the  captain. 

*'  Not  so  but  that  he  can  ride  by  holding  on  to  me.  Are 
you  faint?"  — to  Fred. 


28  ^      THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  No,  not  very,"  said  Fred,   puzzled  and  astonished. 

He  tried  to  remember  where  he  had  heard  that  Toiee. 
His  guard  was  chid  in  the  ordinary  di'ess  of  a  citizen,  and 
he  wore  no  sword. 

"  I  must  tighten  this  girth  a  Httle,  if  my  horse  is  to  carry 
double,"  he  said  loud  enough  for  the  captain's  ear,  and 
halted. 

He  seemed  about  to  dismount.  He  of  the  pistols  also 
drew  rem,  asking  if  he  could  be  of  any  assistance. 

"No,"  said  Daniels.  *'I  reckon  I'll  let  it  go  for  the 
present."  And  he  spurred  on  again,  after  endeavoring  to 
tighten  the  girth,  without  dismounting. 

Durino;  the  brief  halt,  the  distance  between  them  and  the 
main  body  had  materially  increased.  Moreover,  something 
else  had  happened,  of  deep  interest  to  Fred.  The  horse- 
man, tugging  at  the  stri^p  to  which  the  saddle  was  buckled., 
had  turned  his  profile  towards  his  prisoner.  Glimpses  of 
the  silver  east,  brightening  through  the  trees,  shone  upon 
it,  lighting  for  an  instant  the  russet  beard,  the  calm,  reso- 
lute face,  the  deep,  quiet  eyes,  shadowed  by  the  felt-hat.  It 
was  the  same  profile  Fred  had  daguerrotyped  upon  his 
memory  the  evening  before,  when  the  suspected  stranger 
turned  from  him,  and  walked  over  the  hill  into  the  fiery  eye 
of  the  sunset. 


A    STRANGE    RIDE.  29 

*'  Joel  was  rlglit :  the  man  is  a  spy !  'Twas  he  that 
guided  the  rebels  !  He  had  exaiuiued  our  position,  and 
knew  just  where  to  make  the  attack.  But  I  may  pay  him 
yet!^'  The  blood  rushed  violently  to  Fred's  brain,  and 
these  were  the  thoughts  that  mshed  with  it. 

"  Come,  Daniels,  we  shall  be  left  quite  behind !  "  called 
the  officer. 

"  I  am  with  you,"  rephed  Daniels,  spurring  forward. 

A  desperate  resolve  flashed  its  Hght  into  the  boy's  soul. 
To  be  revenged  upon  this  man,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
escape !  Carefully  he  withdi-ew  his  right  hand  Kom  the 
horseman's  waist,  carefully  felt  with  it  in  his  own  pocket, 
and  drew  forth  a  knife.  It  was  a  stout  knife,  with  a  Ions;, 
pointed  blade.  He  opened  it  with  his  teeth,  behind  the 
shoulder  of  the  spy.  Then,  with  the  handle  in  his  grasp 
and  the  ])lade  in  his  sleeve,  he  softly  returned  his  hand,  now 
closed,  to  the  horseman's  waist,  and  awaited  his  chance. 

**  Perhaps  the  officer  will  ride  on.  Oh,  to  be  one  minute 
alone  with  this  villain !  I'll  strike  him  with  all  my  might 
in  his  neck,  tumble  him  off,  snatch  the  reins,  and  away !  " 

Such  were  the  boy's  thoughts,  not  formed  definitely  in 
those  words,  but  passing  throngh  his  mind  in  electric  flashes. 

He  saw  the  possibility  of  escape  clearly  enough,  provided 

the  officer  would  take  himself  out  of  the  way.     True,  the 
3* 


30  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

rebel  pickets  were  passed  long  ago ;  it  was  now  broad  da^; ; 
they  were  in  the  enemy's  ^untry,  travelling  the  open  road  ; 
and,  although  it  was  a  good  horse  they  mounted  (as  he  was 
pleased  to  observe),  he  could  not  hope  to  gallop  back  to 
camp  without  encountering  danger.  He  seemed  to  think  of 
every  thing  in  an  instant  of  tune.  He  even  thought  of  the 
glory  of  such  an  exploit ;  and  of  the  delight  of  writing  to  his 
mother  about  it,  when  all  was  over.  His  plan  was  firmly 
outlined  in  his  mind,  —  to  plunge  into  the  woods,  and  there, 
abandoning  his  horse,  if  necessary,  to  hide  in  the  thickets 
from  his  pursuers,  elude  the  rebel  scouts,  and  make  his  way 
back  at  last,  somehow,  to  the  Union  lines. 

Once  more  the  spy's  horse  fell  behind.  The  man  with 
the  pistols  galloped  on  after  his  companions.  *'  Let  him  pass 
that  ridge !  "  thought  I^red,  thoroughly  nerved  for  his  pur- 
pose;  "and  then!"  He  examined  the  horseman's  neck, 
and  thought  where  he  should  strike. 

*'  My  boy,  let  me  give  you  a  word  of  advice,"  said  the 
spy,  in  a  voice  so  calm  and  friendly  that  Fred  felt  compelled 
to  wait  and  listen  to  him.  Besides,  the  officer  was  not  yet 
out  of  sight :  nothing  would  be  lost  by  a  little  delay. 

**  Well,  sir,"  said  Fred,  in  a  tone  he  vainly  endeavored 
to  make  as  calm  as  the  stranger's.  He  felt  so  much  depend- 
ing upon  the  action  of  the  impending  instant,  that  every 
nerve  seemed  alive  with  excitement. 


A    STRANGE    RIDE.  31 

"Put  that  thing  back  into  your  pocket,"  said  Daniels. 
*'  Don't  you  see  you  will  spoil  all?  " 

''Sir?  What  thing?"  faltered  Fred,  utterly  confound- 
ed, and  no  more  able  to  usa  the  blade  than  if  the  stranger's 
hand  had  grasped  his  wrist. 

That,  however,  Daniels  had  not  done,  and  did  not  attempt 
to  do.  He  had  not  even  made  a  movement  indicating  that 
he  knew  what  the  boy's  fingers  held. 

"  I  mean  that  knife  in  your  right  hand^  against  my  side. 
You  thought  of  killing  me.  Yery  well :  it  was  a  bright 
idea.  I  knew  you  were  a  lad  of  spnit,  or  I  shouldn't  have 
taken  a  fancy  to  you.  But,  next  time,  don't  open  a  blade 
with  your  teeth  so  near  to  your  man's  ear :  learn  to  open  ♦^ 
it  in  your  pocket, jor  under  your  thigh." 

**I  might  kill  you  now!"  uttered  Fred,  with  his  heart 
in  his  throat,  and  wondering  why  he  didn't. 

"  But  you  won't." 

"Why  won't  I?" 

"  Because  it  would  be  the  foolishest  thing  you  could  do, 
my  boy.     You  would  spoil  all  I  am  doing  for  you." 

"Doing  for  me!     What  have  you  done  for  me?"  ex-  • 
claimed  Fred. 

"  Not.  what  you  iraagmc.  I  am  truly  your  best  friend. 
Don't  you  see  how  hard  I  have  been  trying  to  rescue  you? 


32  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

And  I  have  almost  succeeded.  The  captain  will  be  out  of 
sight  in  a  minute.     What  makes  you  tremble  so  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  make  of  you !  "  said  Fred,  ex- 
periencing a  strange  revulsion  of  feeling. 

"  But  you  think  better  of  mo  than  you  did?  "  for  Fred 
had  taken  the  man's  advice,  and  put  his  knife  back  into  his 
pocket.  '*  Now,  havk  ye.  We  are  about  to  part.  I  have 
business  that  must  be  attended  to.  I  should  have  been  about 
it  now,  if  it  hadn't  been  for  this  piece  of  work.  I  have  got 
you  off  at  a  risk  to  myself  that  you  know  nothing  of.  All  I 
ask  in  return  is,  if  we  ever  meet  again,  that  you  will  trust 
me.  Whatever  appearances  may  be,  whatever  you  may  hear 
said  of  me,  believe  in  me,  my  boy  :  will  you?  " 

"  I  will,"  said  Fred,  almost  involuntarily. 

"Remember!  for  we  shall  meet  again.  I  leave  you  in 
these  woods.  Aljout  a  mile  at  the  left,  over  on  the  next 
cross-road,  lives  a  Union  man,  named  Ellsmer.  Go  to  his 
house,  at  night,  when  you  want  any  thing.  Be  very  cautious. 
Stick  to  the  woods.  Take  these  crackers."  (Fred  put  them 
into  his  pocket.)  "  I  shall  be  back  this  way  to-morrow, 
when  I  will  get  you  off." 

"And  our  boys,  the  prisoners:  can't  you  do  something 
for  them?" 

"  You  don't  know  what  you  ask  !     But  I  will  see."     The 


A     STRANGE    RIDE.  33 

man  tlien  gave  Fred  simple  and  brief  directions  for  findinf* 
the  house,  and  also  for  meeting  with  him  on  his  return.  By 
this  time  they  were  quite  alone  on  the  road,  with  woods  on 
either  side. 

**  Now  alight,  and  run  into  the  timber  as  if  for  your  Hfo. 
I  shall  shoot  at  you,  or  pretend  to  ;  for  we  may  be  ob- 
served." 

Fred  obeyed.  Daniels  spurred  after  him,  and  fired  a 
pistol  in  the  woods.  Fred,  to  keep  up  appeai-ances,  tumbled 
into  some  bushes. 

*'  My  prisoner  tried  to  escape,  and  I  shot  him  :  you  un- 
derstand !  " 

With  these  parting  words,  and  with  a  strange,  bright 
look  —  almost  a  smile  —  from  under  his  felt  hat,  the  horse- 
man wheeled  about,  and  galloped  away. 


34 


THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


IV. 


THE    CONSCRIPT. 


HE  morniDg  was  cool,  and  very  pleasant.  The 
sunlight  flushed  the  dark  tops  of  the  pines, 
gilded  the  naked  boughs  of  the  deciduous  trees, 
and  slanted,  in  soft,  bluish  golden  bars,  through  the  hazy 
atmosphere,  to  the  cai'pet  of  loose  leaves  that  covered  the 
ground. 

But  Fred  had  no  leisure  to  appreciate  the  fresh,  sweet 
beauty  of  the  early  day.  It  is  only  when  the  spirit  is  at 
peace  that  Nature  instils  her  tranquil  influences  into  it ;  and 
his  spirit  was  strangely  perturbed. 

The  excitement  of  his  captui-e  and  escape ;  the  mystery 
surrounding  the  man  Daniels,  who,  his  reason  told  him,  was  a 
spy,  and  yet  to  whom  his  heart  acknowledged  a  debt  of  grati- 
tude ;  the  knowledge  that  at  any  hour  he  might  be  retaken  or 
shot,  —  all  these  things  kept  his  thouglits  in  a  whirl.  He 
found  a  good  hiding-place  under  a  fallen  tree,  and  Iny  there 
several  hours.     He    ate   one  of   the  crackers   Daniels   had 


THE    CONSCRIPT.  35 

given  hira,  —  a  diy,  solitary  breakfast.     After  that  lie  grew 
thirsty,  and  resolved  to  go  out,  and  look  for  water. 

After  wandering  about  for  half  an  hour,  he  came  to  a  little 
thread  of  water  that  trickled  among  stones  in  the  almost  dry 
bed  of  a  woodland  stream.  Although  so  late  in  the  season, 
the  springs  were  low.  Fred  looked  along  for  a  good  place  to 
drink,  and  ciime  at  last  to  a  gravelly  basin,  scooped  out  of 
the  stones  and  earth,  where  some  thirsty  wayfarer  had  duo- 
for  water  before  him.  He  got  down  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
dipped  his  face  into  the  clear,  bright  pool,  and  drank  deli- 
cieus  draughts. 

After  quenching  his  thii-st,  he  .observed  the  prints  of 
horses'  hoofs  on  the  bank.  There  were  several  of  them  in 
the  soft  earth ;  evidently  tracks  of  animals  going  down  to  the 
basin.  This  was,  tlien,  a  watering-place,  known  to  travellers. 
"  In  that  case  I  must  look  out,"  thought  Fred.  And  now 
he  was  startled  to  see  half  a  dozen  horsemen  go  gallopino- 
among  the  trees  not  ten  rods  off.  Evidently  the  road  was 
there :  he  had  not  supposed  it  was  so  near. 

Behind  hun  was  a  thicket,  where  the  undergrowth  was  en- 
couraged by  the  moistui-e  of  the  low  ground  about  the  stream. 
He  crept  into  it,  and,  finding  a  spot  where  he  was  perfectly 
liidden,  stretched  himself  out  there,  ate  another  cracker, 
which  he  called  dinner,  and  went  to  sleep. 


36  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Being  very  weary,  he  slept  long  and  well.  If  any  one 
came  to  the  pool  to  drink,  he  did  not  know  it ;  for  his  slum- 
bers were  undisturbed.  It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when  he 
awoke.  He  crept  out  of  the  thicket,  and  drank  again  :  then, 
being  very  hungry,  he  ate  the  last  of  his  crackers ;  that  he 
called  supper.  "  Unless,"  thought  he,  "I  am  lucky  enough 
to  find  friends  who  will  give  me  a  more  substantial  meal ;  m 
which  case,"  —  swallowing  the  last  crumbs,  —  "I  call  this 
luncheon." 

As  it  was  some  distance  to  the  house  of  the  Union  man 
Daniels  had  recommended  him  to  find,  he  resolved  to  set  out 
early  to  search  for  it.  Cautiously  making  his  way  through 
the  woods,  he  anived  on  the  outskirts  of  theui  just  at  dusk. 
The  house  was  in  sight.  His  heart  swelled  with  joyous  antici- 
pations. Yonder,  beneath  that  brown  roof,  were  friends  of 
the  cause  for  which  he  was  fighting ;  and  no  doubt  they  would 
prove  friends  to  him. 

"  An  old  man  and  his  wife,"  Daniels  had  said.  "  Their 
sons  are  in  the  rebel  army,  and  thoy  live  alone." 

He  waited  until  he  could  trust  to  the  darkness  to  screen 
bun  from  observation,  then  left  the  cover  of  the  woods.  He 
approached  the  premises  in  the  rear,  and  reached  safely  the 
shelter  of  a  stable.  The  house  was  perhaps  twenty  yards 
distant.     All  was  still  about  it,  and   there  were  no  lights  in 


THE    CONSCRIPT.  37 

tlie  wlnclows.     Neither  were  there  any  cattle,  nor  aLy  living 
creature  whatever,  stirring  in  the  yard. 

Fred  felt  uneasy,  "without  very  well  knowing  why.  It 
seemed  to  him  that  all  was  not  right  here.  He  had  hoped  to 
meet  the  old  man  at  the  stable  or  the  corn-cribs,  and  avoid  the 
lisk  of  fii'st  entering  the  house,  where  there  might  be  visitors 
he  would  not  like  to  see.  He  coughed ;  then  called  aloud, 
"  Hallo,  there  !  "  In  case  ho  had  brought  out  a  suspicious 
looking  character,  or  anybody  but  an  old  man,  he  was  pre- 
pared to  run  for  the  woods.  The  worst  of  it  was,  he  brought 
no  one  whatever. 

"  They  have  gone  to  bed,"  thought  he.  ''I'll  just  slip 
around,  where  I  can  see  in  front  of  the  house." 

In  front  of  the  house  was  a  porch ;  and  Fred  perceived, 
standing  under  it,  before  the  door,  perfectly  motionless,  in 
the  gloom  of  the  early  evening,  the  form  of  a  man. 

He  waited  a  minute  to  see  if  his  presence  would  be 
noticed.  No  :  the  man  stood  like  a  statue,  his  hands  behind 
him,  and  his  head  on  one  side,  in  an  aHitude  of  the  most 
profound  and  melanchol}^  meditation.  He  had  on  a  queer 
thing  in  place  of  a  hat.  He  seemed  very  tall  ;  or  was  ho 
standing  on  something  that  raised  his  feet  from  the  floor  ? 

Fred  approached,  determined  to  attract  attention.     "  Good- 
evening,  sir  I  "  said  he.     Still  no  motion,  no  response.     The 
4 


38  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

lad's  hair  began  to  lift  itself  with  thrilling  roots.  A  fearful 
mystery  was  here. 

Still  he  advanced,  resolved  to  know  who  the  man  was, 
and  why  he  did  not  speak.  "  Good-evening  !  "  he  said  again, 
setting  his  foot  upon  the  steps,  and  steadying  himself  with 
his  hand  against  one  of  the  posts. 

Speechless  as  a  spectre,  motionless  as  the  post  itself,  rigid- 
ly erect  but  for  the  drooping  head,  the  figui-e  kept  its 
place  in  the  gloom.  But  now  Fred's  attention  was  directed 
to  another  figure,  —  a  woman  on  the  porch  floor;  an  old 
woman,  with  a  wound  in  her  temples,  and  her  gray  hair 
clotted  with  blood. 

"What  —  who  has  done  this?"  he  exclaimed  with  ac- 
cents  of  horror. 

He  looked  up  at  the  man.  Ilis  hands  behind  him  were 
tied.  The  queer  thing  oq  his  bead  was  a  handkerchief,  tied 
over  his  eyes.  Instead  of  standing  before  the  door,  as  at 
fii'st  appeared,  he  was  liaiiging  by  the  neck  from  a  rope 
attached  to  a  rafter  of  the  porch.  That  was  what  made  him 
look  so  tall. 

"  Look  at  'cm  !  look  at  'em  I  "  said  a  deep  voice  hol- 
low with  passion  and  dcspan.  "A  pleasant  sight,  ain't 
it?" 

Where  did  the  voice  come  from  ?     Fred  did  not  know  at 


THE    CONSCniPT.  39 

first.     It  seemed  to  be  the  voice  of  the  present  hoiTor,  that 
was  in  no  particukr  spot,  but  surrounding  him.     Then  he 
saw  a  movement  in  the  open  door  of  the  house.     A  gun- 
barrel  was  pushed  out  menacingly  towards  him ;  and,  behind 
the  weapon,  he  discerned,  in  the  darkness  of  the  room  be- 
yond, the  outlines  of  a  human  form.     Fred  did  not  recoil. 
A  strange  and  terrible  calmness  had  come  over  liim. 
"  It  is  dreadful !  dreadful !  "  he  said.     "  Who  did  it?  " 
Upon  that  the  individual  in  the  house  came   out.     He 
stood,  holding  his  gun  before  his  breast,  while  he  pointed  at 
the  corpses.      He  was  a  young  man ;  a  mere  youth  even,  as 
Fred  could  plainly  see.      He  was  in  his  shirt-sleeves :  his 
throat  was  open,  his  head  uncovered,  his  hair  tangled  wildly 
over  his  brow ;  his  whole  aspect  ghastly  and  savage. 

"  Look  at  that  old  man  !  Look  at  that  old  woman  I  "  he 
said.  "That's  my  father;  that's  my  mother.  I'm  their 
son, — the  youngest.  I  was  the  baby,  ye  know.  They  sot 
more  by  me  than  they  did  by  their  own  lives.  That's  the 
way  it  happened,  ye  see  !  " 

The  young  man's  chest  heaved  with  a  sudden  convulsion, 
a  fierce,  dry  sob  ;  and  he  gnashed  his  teeth,  leaning  upon  his 
gun,  and  looking  down  at  his  mother. 
**  But  how  —  how  did  it  happen?  " 
"How?     I'll   tell   ye.     You   ain't   one  o'   them  I   was 


40  THE    THREE    SCOUTS, 

watching  for;  lucky  for  you!" — witb  a  hideous  laugh  at 
Fred.  "  Ye  see  I  was  watching;  my  gun  ready,  loaded  to 
kill,     I  thought  they  might  be  coming  back." 

-They?    who?" 

"I'll  tell  ye.  We  was  Union  folks  here;  leastwise,  aU 
on  us  but  Bob  :  that's  my  brother.  He's  as  bad  a  rebel  as 
any  on  'em.  But  I  stuck  to  the  Union,  'long  with  the  old 
man,  till  I  was  conscripted.  They  forced  me  into  the  ranks, 
and  made  me  fight ;  only  I  wouldn't.  I  hain't  pent  nary 
bullet  at  a  Federal  uniform  yet;  for  I  swore  I  wouldn't. 
Wal,  I  got  mad,  and  made  up  my  mind  I'd  come  home.  I 
come  three  nights  ago,  and  have  been  hid  here  ever  since. 
But,  to-day,  GrufScy's  Eiders  come  hunting  for  me.  They 
didn't  catch  me  napping,  though.  '  Go  into  yer  hole,  my 
son,'  says  the  old  man.  '  Ye're  safe  thar  ;  they  can't  find 
ye;  and  me  and  the  old  woman  won't  betray  ye,  if  we  die 
fast.'  So  I  went  into  my  hole.  I  couldn't  hear  nary  tiling 
that  was  going  on  ;  but  I  waited  for  the  old  man  to  come  and 
tell  me  'twas  all  rio-ht,  and  I  could  come  out.  But  he  didn't 
come,  and  I  growed  oneasy.  Last  I  ventured  out ;  and  this 
yer's  what  I  found.  They  wouldn't  tell  whar  I  was  :  they 
give  their  lives  for  me  !  " 

"  You  found  them  dead?  " 

"  Jest  as  ye  see  'em.     Tliat  was  three  or  four  hours  ago. 


THE    CONSCRIPT.  41 

I  didn't  tech  to  take  the  old  man  down ;  for  what  was  the 
use  ?  'Twas  all  over  with  him.  I  jest  took  my  gun,  and 
staid  in.  I  knew  the  devils  was  waiting  for  me  to  show 
myself:  so  I  waited  for  them.  They'll  be  here  agin,  if  they 
ain't  watching  now ;  and  I'm  bound  to  have  a  bullet  in  the 
heart  of  one  of  'em,  if  I  wait  a  week.  Now,  who  are  you, 
and  what  do  you  want  ?  Jest  step  into  the  house  ;  for,  dark 
as  it  is,  we  may  get  a  shot." 

They  entered  the  dark  kitchen,  where  Fred  told  his  story. 

"  So  ye  come  here  for  help,  did  ye  ?  Wal,  my  father 
has  hid  and  protected  many  a  Union  man  ;  but  that  time's 
over,  ye  see,  and  ye  couldn't  have  come  to  a  wus  place  now. 
The  devils  have  stripped  the  house  of  every  thing  to  eat, 
and  druv  off  the  cattle.     I  might  hide  ye ;  but  I  can't  eat 

ye." 

"  Why  do  you  stay?  If  you  wait  to  kill  somebody,  you 
will  be  certainly  killed  yourself." 

"That's  about  so.  I  reckon.  And,  I  tell  ye,  I'd  about  as 
lives  die  as  any  way  ;  only  let  me  have  my  revenge  fust.  If 
it's  starving,  I  can  starve ;  or,  if  it's  being  shot,  I  can  be 
shot :  but  I'm  going  to  have  my  revenge." 

Fred  earnestly  entreated  the  conscript  to  fly  to  the  woods 
with  him.  "It  is  useless  to  stay  here.  You  know  the 
country :  we  will  dodge  the  bushwhackers  and  rebel  pickets, 
and  get  into  our  lines." 


42  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  That's  best  for  you ;  but  I  stay  here.  I  can  take  care 
of  myself." 

"  Show  me  your  hiding-place,  will  you  ?  " 

'*  Xo,  I  reckon  I  won't.  'Twouldn't  do  you  no  good,  and 
it  miorht  do  me  harm.     We  don't  know  who  to  trust  these 

o 

times.  As  for  the  man  Daniels  ye  speak  of,  I  don't  know 
him;  but  I'd  advise  ye  not  to  trust  him,  anyhow.  Don't 
trust  nobody  :  don't  trust  me.  Ye'd  better  leave  me,  and 
take  care  of  yourself:  that's  my  advice  to  you." 

"Can't  I  assist  you  in  any  way?"  Fred  inquured, 
horribly  depressed  by  the  young  man's  despau*. 

"Nary  a  bit." 

*' Are  your  neighbors  all  secesh?" 

"  They  mought  as  well  be,  if  they  ain't.  There's  a  man 
further  up  the  road,  name  of  Crumlett :  he's  Union  at 
heart,  but  he's  the  biggest  coward.  He's  from  the  North 
too  ;•  and  wishes  himself  back  thar,  I  reckon." 

"From  the  North!"  Fred  caught  eagerly  at  this  fact, 
and  asked  many  questions  concerning  the  man,  to  which  the 
conscript  gave  miserably  discouraging  answers. 

"  Don't  ye  go  nigh  him.  Don't  ye  have  nothing  to  do 
with  him,  any  way.  He'll  like  as  not  betray  ye.  if  he  finds 
it's  for  his  interest.  Durn  these  half-and-half  men.  If  you 
want  some  clothes  to  hide  your  uniform,  I  can  give  'em  to 


THE    C02fSCniPT.  43 

ye ;  and  that's  more'n  ye  could  get  out'n  him.  Here's  an 
overcoat  and  hat  that'll  do  ye.  Never  mind  the  trouse's  : 
our  folks  have  robbed  your  dead  and  wounded,  till  Federal 
pantaloons  are  common  enough  on  secesh  legs.  But  you'd 
better  give  up  your  cap,  and  put  this  coat  on,  if  ye  don't 
Wimt  to  excite  too  much  attention." 

Fred  hesitated  ;  for  he  had  hoped  to  enjoy  the  triumph  of 
wearing  his  uniform  ^back  to  camp.  But  the  experiences  of 
the  past  half-hour  had  made  a  powerful  impression  upon  him. 
He  had  seen  shocking  evidences  of  the  barbarous  ferocity  of 
his  enemies.  The  man  upon  whose  assistance  he  had  de- 
pended was  hanging  here  before  his  own  door.  His  faith  in 
the  man  Daniels  was  weakened.  He  felt  that  his  presence 
in  the  house  with  the  young  conscript  was  unwelcome ;  and 
he  saw  no  way  before  him  but  to  betake  himself  once  more 
to  the  woods.  Then  what  dangers  must  be  encountered  be- 
fore he  could  hope  even  to  reach  the  Federal  outposts  !  He 
saw  what  advantages  a  disguise  might  afford,  and  he  accepted 
the  proffered  hat  and  coat. 

"  Now  be  sharp,"  said  the  conscript,  letting  him  out  of 
the  house  by  a  back  door.  "  I  know  this  place  is  watched ; 
and,  if  you  can  get  safe  into  the  woods  again,  ye  may  think 
yerself  lucky." 


44  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


THE  MAN  FROM  THE  NORTH 

OW  I  suppose  I  may  consider  myself  in  luc]i," 
tliought  Fred,  rememberiug  the  conscript's  last 
words,  and  pausing  to  take  breath  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  later.  Ho  had,  in  the  mean  time,  quitted  the  house, 
and  reached  the  woods  unmolested.  "  It  doesn't  look  much 
like  luck,  though  !  " 

The  prospect  was  indeed  dismal.  The  night  was  cloudy, 
the  moon  was  hid,  and  darkness  filled  the  woods.  He  had 
never  before  been  in  a  situation  so  utterly  forlorn  and  dis- 
couraging. He  knew  not  a  path ;  and,  even  if  he  had  known 
all  the  paths  in  the  forest,  it  was  then  too  dark  to  find  them. 
Besides,  the  boy  was  hungry. 

Bat  he  did  not  lo.^e  heart.  He  thought  of  the  son  of  the 
murde^;ed  old  couple,  in  that  house  of  hon-ors,  waiting  for 
revenge  ;  and  said  to  himself,  "  I  am  indeed  lucky,  compared 
with  him  ! " 

He  thouglit  of  his  own  dear  mother,  for  whose  sake  he  was 


THE    MAN    FROM    THE    NORTH.  45 

deterrained  to  come  off  conqueror  in  this  struggle  with  diffi-* 
culty  and  danger. 

"  I  won't  wait  for  Daniels,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I  am 
sorry  I  have  waited  for  him  at  all.  I  might  have  found  my 
way  to  the  rebel  pickets  by  this  time ;  and  what  a  jolly  night 
this  would  be  to  run  past  'em !  That  is  north.  Now  I 
must  remember  and  travel  straight ;  for  I'm  bound  to  make 
the  most  of  this  night,  and  get  in,  if  it's  possible,  before 
morning." 

He  plunged  straight  into  the  woods,  and  bravely  pressed 
forward.  He  could  see  his  way  dknly  at  first;  but  he 
had  not  gone  far  when  the  last  glimmer  of  light  faded,  and 
he  became  enveloped  in  almost  total  darkness.  He  ran 
against  tree-trunks;  he  tripped  over  roots  and  sticks;  he  got 
entangled  in  invisible  thickets.  Then  he  saw  that  he  had 
made  a  mistake.  He  ought  to  have  followed  the  roads  on 
such  a  night  as  this. 

But  regret  was  useless  now.  Besides,  he  hoped,  by 
changing  his  course  a  little,  to  strike  the  turnpike  soon.  So 
he  struggled  on,  feeling  with  his  hands  before  him,  stumbling 
often,  and  scratching  his  hands  and  face.  At  last,'  to  his 
great  relief,  he  saw  that  he  was  coming  out  of  the  woods. 
He  arrived  at  open  fields.  But  what  was  this  ?  The  turn- 
pike should  be  here  ;  but  there  was  no  turnpike  !     He  could 


46  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

not  remain  long  in  doubt  as  to  what  had  happened.  In 
avoiding  the  obstacles  in  his  way,  he  had  lost  his  course,  and 
emerged  from  the  woods  in  a  place  where  he  was  as  ignorant 
of  his  situation,  and  of  the  points  of  the  compass,  as  if  he  had 
just  issued  from  a  sack. 

Fortunately,  he  saw  a  light.  "  A  house !  "  And  he 
resolved  to  approach  and  reconnoitre. 

There  was  a  road  in  front  of  the  house ;  and,  as  he  crossed 
it,  a  man  appeared,  standing  in  red  shirt-sleeves,  relieved 
against  the  back-ground  of  a  fire-lighted  room. 

"Who's  there?" 

"A  friend,"  said  Fred,  boldly  advancing. 

''What's  wanting?"  • 

"I'm  a  stranger,"  said  Fred,  '*  on  my  way  to  join  the 
army.     I've  got  lost,  and  I  want  some  supper." 

"  Wal,  that's  bad !  I  don'  know,"  said  the  man  hesi- 
tating. "Which  army?"  looking  anxiously  at  Fred  as 
the  firelight  from  the  door  shone  upon  him. 

"  The  right  one,  of  course,"  replied  Fred. 

"  Of  course  !  "  said  the  man.  "  What  do  ye  say,  ma?  " 
turning  to  a  woman  in  the  house,  about  whose  gown  half  a 
dozen  boys  and  girls  were  huddling,  some  hiding  their  heads 
under  her  apron,  and  some  peeping  from  behind  the  folds  of 
her  dress  with  looks  of  fright.     "  We  hain't  got  an  inch  o' 


THE    MAN   FROM    THE    NORTH.  47 

room  to  spare,"  the  man  added  immediately,  without  waiting 
for  her  response  ;  "  and  I  don't  see  how  we  can  take  ye  in, 
any  way  in  the  world." 

*'  I  only  want  some  supper :  I  have  money  to  pay  for  it," 
said  Fred. 

"Oh!  that  all  ye  want?  Wal,  I  s'pose — what  do  ye 
say,  ma  ?  Can  ye  scare  him  up  a  bite  o'  suthin'  ?  Guess 
he  won't  be  very  pa'tic'lar." 

"I  don't  know,"  said  the  woman  despondingly.  "It's 
as  you  say :  /  don't  have  the  ordering  of  any  thing,  now- 
days." 

"Yes  you  do,  too!"  said  the  man  sharply.  "Don't 
ye  talk  that  way,  now  !  Why  ain't  the  young  ones  sent  to 
bed?" 

"They're  so  scaret:  you  know  as  well  as  I  do.  And 
ever  since  Tildy  come  home,  and  told  about  seeing  IMr. 
EUsmer  hung  'fore  his  own  door,  you've  been  as  scaret  as 
any  of  us." 

"  Wal,  'twas  enough  to  make  a  man  feel  a  Httle  narvous, 
I  own:  next  neighbors,  so.  But  I  ain't  scaret :  no  !  "  said 
the  man  stoutly.  "  Ye  see,"  to  Fred,  who,  in  the  mean  time, 
had  entered  the  house,  "  there's  been  dreadful  doin's  right  in 
our  neighborhood  here  this  very  afternoon.  You've  heered 
on't,  maybe?  " 


48  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Yes,"  said  Fred  :  "  I  heard  an  old  man  and  woman  had 
been  murdered." 

''Mui'dered?  /didn't  say  murdered,  did  I?  "  the  man 
hastened  to  interrupt  him,  evidently  in  gi'eat  alarm.  "  Their 
son  had  deserted,  and  come  home ;  and  they  wouldn't  give 
him  up,  ye  know.  Set  down,  stranger.  Been  travellin' 
fur?" 

"  A  good  many  miles  since  morning." 

"You  don't  look  much  like  the  generality  I  see  goin'  to 
jine  the  army.     Where  ye  from?  " 

**  From  the  vicinity  of  Nashville,"  replied  Fred. 

The  man  stood  by  the  fire,  with  his  hands  on  his  hips,  and 
his  head  one  side,  and  regarded  him  with  anxious  interest. 

*'You  ain't  Tennessee:  I  know  by  your  looks.  You're 
from  the  North,  somewhere,  ain't  ye?  " 

"  ]My  father  was  a  Kentuckian,"  said  Fred  evasively. 

"But  your  mother  wan't?  See  here!"  The  man 
stepped  to  the  door  to  assure  himself  that  it  was  latched. 
"Ma,  you  be  gittin'  him  some  supper.  Maybe  he  won't 
want  nothin'  more'n  some  bread  and  milk.  Ye  can  fry  him 
some  pork,  and  warm  hmi  up  some  petaters,  though,  if  ho 
prefers.  Like  suthin'  pcrty  hearty,  would  ye?  Wal,  I 
s'pose.     Guess  a  slice  o'  that  ham,  and  an  egg,  mother." 

The  woman  set  about  her  task   with  a  discontented  air, 


THE    MAN    FROM    THE    NORTH.  49 

scolding  the  children,  and  giving   them  an  occasional  cuff 
when  they  came  in  her  way. 

The  man  took  a  chair,  and  leaned  over  the  back  of  it, 
scrutinizing  his  guest,  and  questioning  him.  Fred  stood  the 
ordeal  well.  He  felt  that  he  was  master  of  the  situation. 
He  knew  his  host  much  better  than  his  host  knew  him.  For 
it  had  not  taken  him  long  to  satisfy  himself  of  the  fact,  that 
he  had  come  out  of  the  woods  on  the  same  side  from  which 
he  had  entered  them,  and  arrived  by  accident  at  the  house 
of  the  man  "  from  the  North,"  who  was  "  Union  at  heart," 
described  by  the  son  of  the  mmxlered  old  couple. 

''  Was  the  Union  army  about  Nashville  when  you  left?  " 
said  the  man,  confidentially  drawing  the  chair  near  Fred's, 
and  seating  himself  near  by,  facing  him,  with  his  back  towards 
the  fire.  ''What  do  ye  think?  is  Bragg  going  to  git 
whipped  out?  " 

"  If  he  should,"  said  Fred,  "that  would  take  old  Ten- 
nessee back  into  the  Union,  and  you  with  it,  Mr.  Crum- 
lett." 

"  That's  so  !  "  with  excitement.  "  But  how  did  you 
know  that  my  name  was  Crumlett  ?  " 

'*  Oh  !   I  have  heard  of  you  before,"  laughed  Fred. 

*'  Have  ye  ?  "  The  man  fidgeted,  hitched  his  chair,  and 
recrossed  his  legs.     "  Read  about  me,  hey?     Wal,  I  heered 


60  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

tbat  affair  had  got  into  a  book ;  though  I  never  seen  it,  and 
never  wanted  to." 

"  What  affair?  "  asked  Fred,  interested. 

"■  Wal,  that  affair  of  Neighbor  Jackwood's,  ye  know." 

**  What  I  you  don't  mean  to  say  that  you  are  that  Mr. 
Crumlett  ?  ' '  ejaculated  Fred.     ' '  Not  Enos  ?  ' ' 

"  That's  my  name,"  said  the  man,  with  a  curious,  weakly 
smile,  as  if  he  did  not  quite  relish  the  reminiscence. 
"  They've  put  me  into  a  theatre-play  too,  I  hear.  Though 
Tildy,  she  never  would  beheve  that.  The  idee  o'  playin'  us 
in  a  theatre  was  too  silly  !  "  And  the  man  forced  a  laugh, 
as  he  looked  over  his  shoulder  at  the  mother  of  his  children. 

"Is  this  Tildy?"  said  Fred  with  increasing  astonish- 
ment. 

"  **  That's  Tildy  !  "  said  Enos,  his  spirits  rallymg  as  he  saw 
how  much  his  guest  was  interested  in  the  discovery.  "  But 
ye'd  hardly  know  her  now  :  she's  changed." 

"And  no  wonder,"  said  Mrs.  Crumlett  petulantly,  "af- 
ter what  I've  had  to  go  through  !  " 

"Go  through?"  echoed  Enos  tartly.  '^  Come,  now, 
what  have  ye  had  to  go  through  that's  so  dreadful  ?  Hain't 
I  been  a  good  provider?  bought  ye  good  tea  and  good 
snuff?" 

"  Wal,  I  ain't  a-going  to  tell  over  my  troubles  'fore  stran- 


THE    MAN    FROM    THE    NORTH.  51 

gers,"  said  Mrs.  Crumlett  with  the  air  of  an  injured  woman, 
who  could  tell  volumes  if  she  chose. 

*'  By Sidon  !  "  exclaimed  Enos,  unable  to  restrain 

his  wrath  even  in  the  presence  of  his  guest.  "  If  you  ain't 
the  unreasonablest  woman  !  Didn't  I  marry  ye  out  of  a 
poor  family,  and  take  ye  right  into  a  good  home,  and  give 
ye  —  say,  didn't  I  give  ye  a  whole  chistfiil  o'  gownds 
and  things  that  was  ma's,  the  very  summer  you  come  to  live 
with  me,  when  it  might  have  been  expected  you'd  bring 
your  own  outfit?  " 

"Wal,"  said  Tildy  sarcastically,  "if  you've  flung  that 
blue  chist  of  old  duds  into  my  face  once,  you  have  a  hun- 
dred times.  I  wouldn't  mind  it,  if't  wasn't  'fore  stran- 
gers. I  might  fling  back ;  but  'tain't  my  way  to  rake  over 
family  musses,  presence  of  company !  "  referring  to  Fred, 
with  a  polite  simper,  and  the'  air  of  a  person  who  felt  that 
she  knew  how  to  be  a  lady. 

*'  Company  or  no  company,"  broke  forth  Enos,  "  I  ain't 
goin'  to  stan'  by  and  hear  that  chist  of  nice  valoobles  of  ma's 
called  old  duds  by  you  nor  nobody !  " 

"  Wal,"  said  Tildy  with  an  independent  toss,  as  she 
busied  herself  over  the  spider,  "all  I  got  to  say  is,  that  I 
had  two  good  dresses  when  I  was  married,  —  the  one  I  stood 
up  in,  that  I  paid  for  with  my  own  money,  and  the  one 


52  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Berthy  Rukely  give  me ;  and  that  I  haven't  had  what  you 
may  call  a  decent  dress  to  my  back  since." 

"  Hain't  had  a  decent  —  thunderation  !  "  said  Enos, 
sprmging  to  his  feet.  "But  it's  no  use!  "  He  sat  down 
again,  running  his  fingers  through  his  haii'  with  a  look  of 
desperation.  "  She's  the  most  aggravatin'  woman  !  and,  if  I 
hadn't  got  the  most  forbearin'  temper  in  the  world,  we  sh'd 
been  divorced  long  ago  !  " 

"  I'm  perfectly  willin'  to  be  divorced,  if  you  want  to  be," 
said  Mrs.  Crumlett  airily.  "  Guess  'twouldn't  break  my 
heart,  neither." 

"  Wal,  then,  by  jingoes,  we  will  be  !  See  then  how  you'll 
git  along  for  want  o'  dresses  to  your  back.  You'll  go  and 
workout  for  a  livin,'  I  s'pose,  as  ye  did  'fore  I  married  ye  I  " 
and  Enos  grinned. 

"  You've  flung  that  in  mj  face,  too,  often  enough,  I 
should  think,"  retorted  Mrs.  Crumlett,  flaring  up.  "If 
you'd  been  any  thing  of  a  man,  you  never  would  have  seen 
me  go  out  to  work,  after  you'd  made  up  your  mind  to  offer 
yourself." 

"  Fact  is,"  cried  Enos,  "I  never  did  make  up  my  mind 
till  ye  coaxed  me  into  it,  and  I  kind  o'  took  pity  on  ye. 
Then  wlien  I  seen  what  a  tenible  temper  you'd  got, — 
ungrateful,    discontented,    always   flingin'    out,  —  I'd   been 


THE    MAN   FROM    THE    NORTH.  53 

glad  to  break  off  many  a  time,  and  tried  to,  but  ye  wouldn't. 
No,  indeed !  "  with  glittering  sarcasm  in  his  glances. 
"  You'd  hooked  too  good  a  fish  ;  ha,  ha  !  Ketch  you  lettin' 
him  off  after  you'd  once  got  him  well  on,  I  guess  !  Ha,  ha, 
ha !  "  and  Enos  laughed  with  bitter  and  vehement  scorn. 

"  There ! "  exclakned  iMatilda,  slapping  a  plate  down 
spitefully  on  the  table,  "I  never  will  touch  to  do  another 
stroke  of  work  in  your  house,  Enos  Crumlett,  if  I  die  ! 
I've  made  a  slave  of  myself  for  you  long  enough,  if  this  is 
the  way  I'm  to  be  thanked  !  Out  from  under  my  feet, 
Eeny !  " — to  her  oldest  boy,  named  after  his  father, — 
giving  him  a  smart  slap.  "  Now  go  to  crying,  and  I'll 
give  ye  another  to  keep  that  company.  Tildy,  put  that 
young  one  to  bed,  or  do  what  you're  a  mind  to :  I  don't 
care.  I've  done  having  any  thing  to  do  in  this  house,  if 
your  pa  wan%s  to  get  rid  of  me  !  "  and  Mrs.  Crumlett  threw 
herself  upon  a  chair,  muffling  her  sobs  in  her  apron. 

"  Come,  come,  ma,"  said  Enos,  alarmed  by  this  violent 
demonstration :  "  don't  be  silly,  now.  I  hain't  said  I 
wanted  to  git  red  on  ye."  He  examined  the  plate  to  see  if 
it  was  cracked.  "  'Twan't  your  fault  if  you  didnH  smash  it 
Lucky  for  me  I  thought  to  buy  thunderin'  stout  crockery, 
when  you  was  to  have  the  handhn'  on't,  by  jingoes  !  Hurt 
ye,  Eeny?  Wal,  ye  must  lam  to  kept  out  o'  tlie  way  when 
5* 


54  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

yer  ma's  got  her  temper  up.  Run  to  roost,  as  the  chickens 
do  when  there  is  a  storm  comin'.  Come,  Tildy,  come  !  " 
coaxingly.     "  This  young  man  is  waitin'  for  his  supper." 

"  Oh,  yes  !  "  sobbed  Mrs.  Crumlett  in  her  apron,  "  if 
there's  any  thing  ye  want  me  to  do,  ye  can  be  so  pleasant ! 
Then,  when  my  feelin's  is  a  little  grain  tried,  — and  it's  you 
that  try  'em,  — you'll  begin  to  talk  about  divorce  !  " 

"  Sho,  now,  ma !  I  tell  ye  I  didn't.  'Twas  you  fust 
spoke  o'  divorce.  I  hain't  put  up  with  yer  failin's  all  these 
years  to  want  to  give  ye  up.  You  can  be  jest  the  best  woman 
in  the  world,  if  you're  a  mind  to  :  I'll  say  that  for  ye. 
She  ain't  very  well,  ye  know,"  said  Mr.  Cmmlett,  address- 
ing his  guest  in  words  he  intended  should  have  a  socthino; 
effect  on  Mrs.  Crumlett.  "  Have  to  make  allowances. 
She's  a  good  wife  and  mother,  after  all.  Come,  Tildy,"  — 
to  his  oldest,  a  dirty-faced  girl,  of  the  same  age  as  Eeny,  — 
"can't  ye  finish  gittin'  the  gentleman's  supper?  Mamma 
ain't  well,  ye  know." 

Fred,  amused  by  this  altercation,  yet  becoming  weary  of 
it,  and  hungiy  for  his  supper,  resolved  to  divert  the  conver- 
sation into  another  channel.  This  he  did  so  adroitly,  that 
Mrs.  Crumlett,  perceiving  that  her  sufferings  were  no  longer 
the  chief  object  of  attention,  soon  began  to  dry  her  eyes,  and 
peep  over  her  apron  to  see  what  Tildy  was  doing.     Tildy 


THE    MAN    FROM    THE    NORTH.  55 

was,  of  course,  doing  every  thing  awkwardly  and  wrong; 
observing  which,  the  mother,  losing  patience,  and  forget- 
ting her  resolution  to  do  no  more  work  in  her  husband's 
house,  sprang  to  her  feet,  jerked  the  dishes  from  the 
child's  hands,  shook  her  arm  with  a  sharp  reprimand  for 
her  stupidity,  and  sent  her  to  look  after  '*  that  young  one,"  — 
meaning  the  baby.  Tildy  went  to  the  baby;  while  her 
mother  jDut  Fred's-  supper  on  the  board. 


56  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


YI. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  EN  OS  CRUMLETT. 

OW  happens  it,  Mr.  Crumlett,"  said  Fred, 
drawing  his  chair  to  the  table,  "  that  you  are 
living  down  here  in  Tennessee  ?  " 

"  Wal,"  said  Enos,  "I  can't  hardly  tell,  myself.  Got 
sick  o'  Vermont.  That  Jackwood  business  had  kind  o' 
raised  a  prejudice  agin  me,  ye  know.  So,  after  ma  she 
died,  Tildy  and  me  pulled  up  stakes,  and  moved  to  the 
JVIichigan.     But  Tildy  she  wan't  contented  there." 

"  You  needn't  say  /  wan't  contented  !  "  interposed  jMrs. 
Crumlett.  "  'Twas  you  that  wan't  contented,  just  as  much 
as  'twas  me,  and  more  so." 

"Me?"  cried  Enos,  prepared  sharply  to  dispute  that 
point,  "  But  let  it  go ;  let  it  go ;  any  thing  for  peace,"  said 
he,  in  a  tone  which  signified  that  he,  being  a  man  of  exem- 
plary forbearance,  was  ready  to  concede  every  thing  in  view 
of  his  wife's  infirmity. 

**You  know  you  was  discontented  !  "   persi>^ted   Matilda. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    ENOS    CRUMLETT.       57 

'•  And  I  won't  liave  you  lay  it  all  to  me,  tbat  we  couldn't 
stay  there,  and  had  to  move  down  here  into  Tennessee,  —  the 
foolishest  move,  if  I  do  say  it !  " 

"  What  made  me  discontented,  I'd  like  to  ask?  "  Enos  in- 
quued  with  preternatm-al  mildness  of  tone,  designed  to  con- 
vince his  guest  how  meek  and  conciliatory  he  was  obliged  to 
he  with  a  woman  of  her  temper. 

"What  made  ye?  'Twan't  me  that  made  ye,  if  that's 
what  you're  trying  to  insinuate.  But  the  same  thing  't  made 
us  leave  Vermont  had  followed  us  to  the  Michigan,  and  made 
us  leave  there." 

**  Wal !  "  remarked  Enos  with  a  scowl,  while,  he  tried  to 
look  candid  and  unconcerned,  drawhig  down  the  corners  of 
his  mouth  with  an  expression  of  swallowing  something  bitter, 
which  he  pretended  not  to  taste,  —  "  wal !  I  own  that  may 
have  had  suthin'  to  do  with  it.  But  what  had  I  done  ? 
Only  jest  mentioned  to  a  man  in  search  of  his  property 
where  that  property  was  to  be  found.  So  they  had  to  nick- 
name me  Judas  Crumlett  I  " 

"  But  that  property  was  a  human  being  !  "  said  Fred. 

"Wal,  yes,  —  a  slave,  ye  know,  though  she  was  white. 
But  that  wan't  my  lookout.  Property  —  why,  property  is 
property."  And  Enos  coughed,  trying  to  look  even  more 
candid  than  before. 


58  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

'.'  But  you  received  money  for  telling  where  slie  was  !  " 
Upon  that  Enos  suiiled  biliously.  "  All  I  received,  and 
a  hundred  times  over,  wouldn't  begin  to  make  me  good  for 
the  trouble  and  expense  I've  been  put  to  on  account  of  that 
—  wal,  I  won't  swear  in  presence  of  the  children;  but  I 
want  to,  bad  enough,  when  I  think  o'  the  pay  I  got  for  my 
share  in  the  transaction.  We  shouldn't  a'  gone  to  the  Mich- 
io-an,  and  had  the  fever'n  ager  there  two  seasons,  and  we 
never  should  a'  come  to  Tennessee,  that's  mighty  sartin,  if  't 
hadn't  been  for  that.  They  say  bad  news  travels  fast :  and, 
by  jingoes  I  it  does ;  for  we'd  no  sooner  got  settled  in 
Michio;an  than  it  o-ot  noised  about  there  't  I  was  the  man 
that  took  money  for  givin'  up  a  fugitive.  Bime  by  I 
got  mad.  '  Jerushey  mighty,  Tildy ! '  says  I,  'we  may  as 
well  be  hung  for  an  old  sheep  as  a  lamb.  Since  this  slave 
business  has  got  us  a  bad  name,  let's  go  the  whole  hog.' 
'  Why,'  says  she,  '  what'U  ye  do,  Enos  ?  '  says  she.  *  Do  ?  ' 
says  I:  'I'll  go  where  my  friends  be,'  says  I.  'I'll  go 
where  slave-huntin'  's  the  fashion ;  where  folks  beheve  in't, 
and  cry  it  up,  and  there  ain't  none  o"  these  mean  prejudices 
agin  givin'  up  a  fugitive  !  By  the  laws  !  '  says  I,  '  we'll 
own  slaves,  TiLly  !  '  says  I ;  '  we'll  have  the  game  as  well 
as  the  name  ! '  " 

"  There  !  "  said  Mrs.  Crumlett  triumphantly,   "  I'm  glad 
you've  owned  up  'twas  i/ovr  idee,  and  not  mine 


1  " 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    EN  OS    CItUMLETT.       59 

"  Wal !  "  replied  Enos,  disconcerted,  but  rallying  immedi- 
ately, "  'twas  my  idee,  after  I  see  how  res'less  and  uneasy 
you  was, — that  I  own." 

Fred,  seeing  that  Mrs.  Crumlett  was  about  to  flare  up 
again,  made  haste  to  inquire  how  Enos  liked  Tennessee. 

"Between  you  and  me,"  —  Crumlett  lowered  his  voice 
to  a  confidential  whisper;  then,  as  if  fearful  of  commitr 
ting  himself,  he  added,  "  Wal,  to  state  it  mild,  I  was  a 
leetle  grain  disappinted.  They  don't  know  how  to  farm 
it  here,  no  more'n  they  know  how  to  fly.  Jest  look  at 
the  kind  o'  tools  they  use  !  Then,  if  a  man  undertakes  to 
interduce  improvements,  they  grow  suspicious  on  him  rio-ht 
oflf,  'specially  if  he's  a  Northerner ;  and  give  him  hints  't 
he'd  better  keep  the  old  track,  if  he  don't  want  to  git 
into  trouble." 

"  But  slavery  —  you  found  that  a  beautiful  system,  didn't 
you?" 

"  I  hain't  a  word  to  say  agin  the  system,  of  course  !  " 
Enos  smoothed  his  chin.  "I'd  kind  o'  placed  myself  that 
side  o'  the  fence,  and  I  come  here  prepared  to  fall  in  love 
with't  head  over  heels.  I  bought  three  darkies,  to  begin  with ; 
averaged  six  hundred  dollars  apiece,  they  did ;  thought  I 
was  a  goin'  to  make  a  fortin'  out  on  'em,  and  live  at  my 
ease.     But,  by  jingoes  !  I  couldn't  git  so  much  work  onto' 


GO  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

them  three  blacV  liands  as  I  could  out  o'  one  white  one  to 
the  North,  if  I  was  to  die.  Whippiu'  was  good  for  'em,  long 
as  I  follered  it  up.  and  stood  over  'em  with  a  lash  till  the 
work  was  done  But  they  beat  all  the  shirks,  the  minute  my 
back  was  turned ;  and  theio  wan't  no  such  thing  as  makin' 
'era  do  their  work  to  suit  me.  They  tried  me  to  death  !  " 
said  Enos  :  '•  till,  finally,  I  come  to  the  conclusion  't  if  I 
wanted  my  work  done  as't  should  be,  the  way  was  to  pay 
somebody  to  do  it ;  for  a  man  won't  do  nothin'  well  without 
he  takes  an  interest  in  it,  and  he  won't  take  no  interest  with- 
out you  pay  him.  That's  my  experience.  But,  by  the 
laws  !  the  minute  I  hinted  it  to  my  neighbors,  there  was  the 
dense  to  pay.  They  said  I'd  come  to  meddle  with  their  insti- 
tutions; though  I'd  no  prejudice  agin  slavery,  and  all  I 
wanted  was  to  git  a  livin'.  But  when  I  see  't  the  interest 
on  my  eighteen  hundred  dollars  't  the  niggers  cost  me,  and 
the  expense  o'  keepin'  on  'em,  not  to  speak  of  the  wear  and 
tear  o'  prop'^y,  — •  for  nigger- flesh,  like  horse-flesh,  '11  wear 
out,  course  o'  time, — when  [  see  't  all  that  was  about 
double  what  I'd  haf  to  pay  a  single  hired  man  to  the  North 
for  doin'  the  same  work,  and  doin'  it  well,  —  why,  it  sot  me 
to  thinkin'.  But  I  soon  see  'twan't  safe  even  to  think  on 
that  subject,  much  less  to  try  to  work  out  o'  the  beaten 
track  :  so  I  jest  watched  to  see  what  my  neighbors  done,  and 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    ENOS    CUVMLETT.      61 

done  the  same,  —  let  the  niggers  jog  about  as  they  pleased, 
and  every  thing  about  the  farm  go  to  seed  and  shiftlessness ; 
for  that's  the  order  o'  the  day  here.  Then  come  along  an- 
other pair  o'  twins  :  Eeny  and  Tildy's  twins,  and  Rukely  and 
Berthy's  twins.  If  children  is  a  blessin',  I  guess  we've  had 
about  our  share.  I  tell  ye,  it's  bean  a  hard  time  for  us  ;  and 
I  don't  know  what  in  creation  we  should  done,  if  't  hadn't 
been  for  some  prop'ty  my  uncle  left  me.  But  then  this 
plaguy  secesh  business  turned  up :  that's  cost  me  every 
thing!  "  Mr.  Cmmlett  looked  a  picture  of  pecuniary  dis- 
tress. "  Fust  place,  it's  cost  me  over  a  thousan'  dollars  to 
keep  out  o'  the  army,  —  besides  my  niggers.  One  on  'em 
run  away,  and  got  into  the  Federal  lines,  where  I  guess  I 
never  shall  see  him  agm. ;  and  t'other  two  has  been  took  by 
the  Confederate  Gov'ment  to  work  on  fortifications.  So  here 
we  be !  "  added  Enos  in  a  voice  tremulous  with  emotion  ; 
"and  what'll  happen  next,  the  Lord  only  knows,  and  he 
won't  tell.  You're  from  the  North,  or  I  never  should  talk 
to  you  this  way ;  for,  I  tell  ye,  I've  had  to  look  sharp  and 
not  git  into  more  serious  trouble,  all  this  time.  See  here, 
now  !  didn't  I  guess  right  ?  Ain't  you  from  Ohio  or  Illi- 
noize?  Come  on  here  with  spec'lators?  to  buy  cotton, 
mebby?  I  was  sure  on't !  "  he  exclaimed  triumphantly,  as 
Fred  gave  him  a  sly  wink.  "  Can't  ye  let  me  into  the  se- 
cret, if  there's  a  chance  for  a  spec'lation?  " 
6 


62  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  When  the  riglit  time  comes,  perhajjs,'"  said  Fred.  "I 
have  to  be  a  little  cautious  in  my  movements.  By  the  way, 
can  you  keep  me  over  night  ?  I  didn't  think  of  proposing 
it  when  I  came  in  ;  but  really,  Mr.  Crumlett,  it  is  so  nice  to 
find  myself  in  the  house  of  a  Northern  man,  —  a  friendly,  in- 
telligent man  like  you  !  " 

Fred,  you  see,  was  careful  not  to  trust  Enos  too  far.  On 
the  other  hand,  Enos,  scenting  a  chance  for  some  speculation, 
and  confident  that  the  hospitahties  extended  to  his  guest 
would  be  paid  for,  began  to  consider  whether,  after  all,  there 
might  not  be  an  * '  inch  of  room  ' '  in  the  house  for  his  accom- 
modation. 

"  What  do  you  think,  ma?  Can  manage  to  pack  three 
o'  the  young  ones  into  the  trundle-bed,  can't  ye  ?  Then  you 
can  put  him  into  the  bed  along  with  Eeny.  You  won't  ob- 
ject to  sleeping  with  Eeny,  will  ye  V  " 

"Not  particulaiiy ;  although"  —  Fred  glanced  at  the 
younger  Enos,  who  had  already  fallen  asleep  with  his  head  on 
the  table,  where  he  was  snoring  vigorously —  "  I  should  pre- 
fer to  sleep  on  the  floor  :  I'm  used  to  that." 

"  Wal,  then,  ma,  make  him  up  a  bed  on  the  floor." 

"  Oh  !  "  said  Mrs.  Cmmlett,  "  it's  easy,  ain't  it,  for  you  to 
set  there,  and  say  make  him  up  a  bed  on  the  floor,  when  you 
know  there  ain't  a  feather,  nor  even  a  straw  tick,  to  spare, 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    ENOS    C  R  U  M  L  E  T  T.      63 

say  nothing  of  pillers  and  comforters  !  That's  always  the 
way :  I'm  expected  to  manage  without  a  thing  to  manage 
with." 

"  Without  a  thing  to  manage  with  !  "  echoed  Enos,  aghast 
with  astonishment.  "  If  you  ain't  the  capsheaf  of  all  the 
complainin'  women  !  What  did  you  do  'fore  I  married  ye, 
hey  ?  Had  lots  to  manage  with  then,  didn't  ye  !  I  guess 
you've  forgot  how  you  come  out  of  a  family  poor  as  Job's  re- 
lations, right  into  a  house  where  there  was  furnitewer,  beds, 
and  beddin',  and  every  thing  convenient  and  comf  table  :  no 
thanks  to  you  for't,  neither !  " 

"  Wal,  fling  that  in  my  face  agin,  will  ye  ?  I  say  there's 
nothin'  to  manage  with,  and  I  can  prove  it." 

"I  deny  it!"  Mr.  Cramlett  stood  erect,  and  slapped 
down  the  fact  on  the  table  with  his  hand  so  forcibly,  that 
Eeny  started  up,  and  stared  about  him,  exclaiming,  "  Who's 
shot  ?  "  —  "  Come,  now,"  said  his  father,  defiantly  inviting 
opposition,  "I  deny  it!  though  I  own  we  hain't  the  con- 
veniences we  once  had :  and  whose  fault  4s't,  if  we  hain't  ? 
You've  had  the  things,  and  why  didn't  you  take  care  on 
'em?" 

"  /  take  care  on  'em !  when  you've  kept  me  knocking 
about  the  world,  from  pillar  to  post,  so  it's  been  much  as  I 
could  do   to  take  care  of   myself,  say  nothmg  of  the  chil- 


64  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

dren.  Such  treatment  as  I  have  had  I  I'm  sure  I  never  ex- 
pected it,  after  going  two  temis  to  boarding-school;  when  I 
might  have  married  a'most  any  man  I  pleased." 

"  When  you  might  a'  married  I  —  why  in  Sam  Hill  didn't 
ye,  then?"  said  Enos  furiously.  "  K  you've  got  sic]^  of 
me,  you  can  quit  any  time  you  choose  :  you  can  go  to  Indi- 
anny,  and  git  a  divorce  there,  short  notice  ;  then  go  fishin' 
for  another  husband.  Mebby  you'd  like  to  have  me  give  ye 
a  letter  o'  recommendation ;  tell  what  a  sweet,  amiable  dispo- 
sition you've  got ;  what  good  care  you've  always  took  of  your 
ongrateful  fust  husband  ;  always  made  the  best  o'  things, 
without  a  murmur,  when  he  was  unfortinit  in  business,  and 
couldn't  always  pervide  as  he'd  like  to  !  I  can  say  what  an 
even  hand  ye  always  carried  with  the  children :  never  gittin' 
cross,  no  indeed !  never  gittin'  into  a  tantrum  and  slappin' 
on  'em  around  jest  'cause  they  happen  to  be  in  your  way. 
Guess  I  could  write  you  a  certifkit  'u'd  make  your  eyes 
swim  !  Mebby  ye  could  git  ye  a  bran-new  husband  on  the 
strength  on't ;  and,  then  agin,  mebby  ye  couldn't.  I'm  will- 
iu'  you  should  try,  any  time  ye  choose  ;  that's  all !  '^  And 
Enos  paced  the  floor  in  great  excitement. 

"  I  beg  of  you,"  Fred  entreated,  "  don't  let  my  presence 
here  cause  any  trouble  :  I'm  used  to  camping  in  the  woods  ; 
and  I'd  rather  do  so  to-night,"  rising. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    ENOS    CRUMLETT.       65 

'^  No,  ye  sha'n't !  "  cried  Enos,  forcing  him  back  into  his 
chair.  "I  ain't  goin'  to  see  a  stranger,  — from  the  North 
too,  and  wilHn'  to  pay  at  that,  —  I  ain't  goin'  to  see  him 
turned  out  into  the  woods  a  night  Hke  this,  jest  'cause  my 
■wife's  got  on  her  high-heeled  shoes  ;  not  by  a  long  chalk  !  " 

'*  I  don't  want  to  turn  anybody  out  of  the  house  :  I 
should  think  'twas  me  that  was  turned  out !  "  said  ^Irs. 
Crumlett.  ' '  To  have  my  husband  tell  me  to  my  face  he 
wants  to  git  rid  of  me,  and  will  give  me  a  recommendation 
to  go  and  git  a  divorce,  —  presence  of  company  too  !  I 
never  thought  it  would  come  to  this  !  But  I  can  go ;  I  can 
go  right  off  to-night,  if  my  staying  here  is  so  disagreeable : 
only  I  can't  take  the  children  with  me  ;  I  wouldn't  subject 
them  to  hardships." 

"Ye  can  leave  the  children,"  suggested  Enos  coolly. 
**  Ye  needn't  wony' about  them.  If  you're  so  anxious  to 
go,  don't  let  any  sich  consideration  as  that  bender  ye,  I 
beg!" 

'*  Nobody  has  said  I  wanted  to  go ;  only  you  turned  me 
out  I "  snapped  INIrs.  Crumlett,  actually  putting  on  her 
bonnet,  and  wrapping  an  old  faded  shawl  about  her  shoul- 
ders. "  Good-by,  Tildy  ;  good-by,  Eeny.  You  won't  have 
any  mother  any  more,Tdl  your  pa  brings  you  home  a  new 
one :  see  then  if  she  can  'put  up  with  the  treatment  I  have 

6* 


G6  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

had  to  put  up  with,  and  be  any  more  patient  than  I  have 
been!" 

"  I  hain't  turned  ye  out !  Come,"  said  Enos,  after  pacing 
the  room  obstinately  for  a  minute,  but  finally  relenting,  when 
he  saw  she  was  resolved  to  leave  the  house. 

*'  Same  thing :  you  don't  want  me  You're  all  the  time 
hinting  about  a  divorce,  and  telUng  me  to  find  another  home." 

"  No,  I  ain't :  it's  you  that  keeps  ta'ntin'  !  I  hain't  said 
but  that  you've  been  patient.  I  hain't  said  /  could  a' 
married  any  woman  I  pleased :  never.  I  say,  if  you're 
bent  on  gittin'  a  divorce,  why,  I  sha'n't  hender.  I  don't 
want  ye  to  stay  and  live  with  me,  if  ye  don't  want  to;  and 
I'm  sm-e  that's  fair." 

"  I  ain't  bent  on  gittin'  a  divorce,  and  never  said  I  was," 
replied  the  afflicted  Mrs.  Crumlett,  with  pins  in  her  mouth, 
drawing  her  shawl  together.  "  But  human  nature  "  —  tak- 
ing the  pins  out — "  is  human  nature.  I  own  I'm  human. 
I  can  endui-e  as  much  as  a'most  any  woman,  for  my  chil- 
dren's sakes  ;  but  when  I'm  told  in  so  many  words  that  I've 
outlived  my  usefulness,  and  ain't  wanted  any  more,  that's 
enough.  I  can  go  out  in  the  woods,  and  lay  myself  down 
and  die,  a  sacrifice  to  the  peace  of  my  family,  that's  got  sick 
and  tired  of  me,  if  I  can't  do  any  thmg  more  !  " 

"  Come,  ma:  ye  hain't  no  notion  o'  goin'  out  into  the 
woods,  ye  know  ye  hain't  !  "     Yet  Fnrp  locked  disturbed. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    ENOS    C  R  U  M  L  E  T  T.       67 

"  You'll  see  whether  I  have  or  not!  Ye  won't  deny  mo 
the  privilege  of  bidding  my  children  a  last  farewell,  will  jq  ? 
No,  ye  won't  be  so  cruel  as  that !  "  Mrs.  Crumlett  went  to 
the  cradle,  and  bent  over  the  baby, — her  fingers  busily 
pinning  the  shawl  in  the  solemn  interval  of  grief.  "  Poor 
thing  !  he  won't  realize  his  loss  yet  a  while  ;  but  ye  may 
have  twenty  wives,  and  they  can't  fill  the  place  of  a  real 
mother  to  your  children  !  " 

Mrs.  Crumlett  wiped  her  eyes  with  a  corner  of  her  shawl, 
and,  bending  over  again,  kissed  the  baby  very  carefully,  in 
order  not  to  waken  it.     Enos  looked  on  with  visible  remorse. 

"  Come,  come,  mother  !  take  off  yer  things,  and  don't 
talk  of  leavin'  the  baby  !  You  never  can  leave  it ;  you  know 
you  can't !  " 

"I'm  glad  it's  weaned,"  Matilda  went  on,  tying  her 
bonnet-strings.  "  It  won't  miss  me  much.  Tildy  is  getting 
very  handy  about  the  house :  so  I  don't  see  as  I  shall  be 
missed  much,  any  way.  Kiss  me,  Tildy  !  Eeny,  Eeny, 
my  dear !  can't  you  wake  up,  and  kiss  your  mother :  she's 
going  away ;  and  you  probably  will  never,  never,  see  her  no 
more  !  " 

"Le'  me  be  !  "  said  Eeny  peevishly.  "You're  always 
going  to  leave  pa;  but  you  never  have  yet !  "  and  the  in- 
credulous urchin  nestled  his  face  in  the  crook  of  his  arm,  and 
persisted  in  sleeping. 


68  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Well,  you'll  be  sorry  after  I've  gone!  I  s'pose  you'll 
say  good-by  to  me,  if  I  have  been  such  a  miserable  wife  and 
mother !  "  Mrs.  Crumlett  pathetically  addressed  her  hus- 
band. 

"  No  :  I  won't  do  any  thing  of  the  sort,"  said  Enos  with 
a  conciliatory  smile ;  "for  you  ain't  goin',  Tildy.  /don't 
want  ye  to  go,  ye  bioia.'^ 

"  No,  I  don't  know  it.  If  I  did,  I'm  sure  I  shouldn't 
want  to  leave  you  and  the  dear,  dear  children  !  " 

"  Well,  then,  take  off  your  bunnet ;  don't  le's  part  on  a 
little  misunderstandin'  :  come,  Tildy  I  " 

"  If  ye  re'ly  want  me  to  stay,  —  to  please  you  ;  but  I'm 
sure  "  —  Mrs.  Crumlett's  voice  choked  ;  and,  to  relieve  the 
obstruction,  she  sighingly  untied  her  bonnet-strings. 

"Now  say  no  more  about  it,"  said  Enos.  "The  best 
woman  in  the  world," — aside  to  his  visitor,  —  "  only  not 
very  well,  and  subjick  to  low  sperits.  Come,  mother,  chirk 
up,  and  see  what  we  can  do  for  —  What  did  ye  tell  me 
your  name  was  ?  " 

Fred  gives  his  name.  Mrs.  Crumlett  regains  her  compos- 
ure, and  concludes  that  she  can  manage  to  make  a  bed  on 
the  floor ;  and  so  he  is  provided  for  comfortably  for  the 
night. 


THE    RETURN    OF    THE    GUERILLAS.  69 


VII. 


THE  RETURN  OF   THE    GUERILLAS, 

AM  as  safe  here  as  anywhere,  for  the  present," 
thought  Fred.  "I'll  rest  to-night,  take  to- 
morrow to  reconnoitre,  and  feel  my  way  as  near 
as  possible  to  the  rebel  lines ;  then,  to-morrow  nifrht,  I'll 
dodge  their  pickets.  This  will  be  the  best  way,  if  nothing 
else  turns  up." 

Something  did  "turn  up,"  however,  as  we  shall  see. 
After  breakfast  the  next  morning,  he  paid  Mr.  Crumlett  for 
his  entertainment,  and  proposed  to  take  leave  of  him.  He 
had  business,  he  said,  which  required  his  attention. 

"  Wal,"  said  Enos,  who,  having  scented  a  speculation, 
was  determined  to  learn  the  secret  of  it,  "if  ye  must  be 
movin',  I  guess  I'll  walk  a  little  piece  with  ye,  and  show  ye 
the  way." 

To  this  proposal  Fred  had  no  valid  objection  to  make. 
Mr.  Cramlett  buttoned  his  coat,  and  directed  Mrs.  Crumlett 
to  loo  A  sharp  after  things  during  his  absence. 


70  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Just  as  if  I  needed  to  be  told  that !  "  said  Mrs.  Crum- 
lett.  "Don't  I  always  look  after  things  when  you're 
away  ?  " 

**  Sometimes  ye  do,  and  sometimes  ye  don't,"  replied  Enos 
bluntly.  "  Ye  needn't  be  so  uppish  jest  'cause  I  mentioned 
it." 

"  I  ain't  uppish  ;  but  I  do  wish  you  would  give  me  some 
little  credit  for  what  I  do :  guess  I  look  after  things  well 
enough ;  and  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  we  got  along  sometimes 
about  as  well  in  your  absence  as  when  you're  here  to  order 
and  find  fault." 

"  Oh,  wal !  "  exclaimed  Enos,  "  if  you  do  so  much  better 
without  me,  I  might  jest  about  as  well  stay  away :  I  guess 
I'll  go  for  good.     How  would  that  suit,  I  wonder?  " 

"  'T would  suit  well  enough,  if  yc  want  to  !  " 

"  Oh  !  would  it?  That's  interestin'  !  I'm  goin'  off  with 
this  young  man ;  and,  if  any  thing  should  happen  't  I  can't 
come  back,  it'll  be  comfortin'  to  know  I've  got  a  wife  to  hum 
that  can  take  care  o'  things  better'n  I  can  !  Glad  ye  told 
me  !  "  and  Enos  went  back  into  the  house,  and  put  some 
money  into  his  pocket;  an  act  designed  to  impress  Mrs. 
Crumlett  with  the  fact  that  he  was  preparing  for  dire  emer- 
gencies. 

"  I  hain't  said  I  could  take  care  of  things  better  than 
you  could,  Enos!  "  she  said  in  a  modified  tone. 


TUE    EETUEX    OF    THE    GUERILLAS.  71 

But  Enos  didn't  seem  to  hear.  "  I  ain't  the  kind,"  he 
muttered,  "  that  wants  to  be  in  anybody's  way."  And  he 
proceeded  to  fill  his  pockets  with  doughnuts. 

"  Ain't  ye  coming  back,  Enos?  "  asked  Mrs.  Crumlett  af- 
fectionately.   '*  Say,  Enos  !  " 

"  I  don't  know ;  and,  more'n  all  that,  I  don't  care !  It's 
discouragin'  to  a  man  to  be  told  by  his  own  wife  she  can  git 
along  better  without  him." 

In  vain  Mrs.  Cmmlett  protested  against  this  unjust  con- 
struction of  her  words,  and  entreated  to  be  told  when  she 
might  look  for  his  return. 

"These  is  tickhsh  times,"  said  Enos  grimly;  "and  no 
man  knows,  when  he  leaves  home,  what' 11  happen.  Lucky 
for  them  that's  got  wives  that  can  manage  so  much  better 
without  'em !  " 

Having  uttered  this  sai'casm,  Mr.  Crumlett  marched  away 
sternly  with  Fred,  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  Matilda's  tearful 
expostulations. 

It  was  yet  early  morning.  As  Fred  expressed  a  wish  to 
avoid  observation,  they  proceeded  towards  the  woods.  Before 
they  had  entered  them,  however,  a  band  of  mounted  men 
came  galloping  along  the  road,  and  ordered  them  to  halt. 

"  Come  back  here  !  "  shouted  an  officer. 

Fred,  who  happened  to  be  a  few  yards  in  advance  of  Mr. 


72  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Crumlett,  on  the  edge  of  some  bushes  that  skirted  the  woods, 
hoped  that  he  had  not  been  seen  :  at  all  events,  he  did  not  for 
an  instant  entertain  the  idea  of  going  back.  He  had  recog- 
nized in  the  officer  his  acquaintance  of  the  previous  morning, 
—  the  captain  ^yith  the  pistols. 

**  It's  Gruflfley's  Riders  !  "  said  Enos,  turning  pale. 

"It  is  you  they  want,"  Fred  whispered  :  "I'll  see  you 
again !  "  and,  plunging  into  the  bushes,  he  was  immediately 
lost  to  sight. 

Enos  was  greatly  alarmed  ;  he  was  afraid  to  obey  the 
harsh  orders  of  the  guerilla  chief,  who  could  have  no  errand 
to  him  promising  either  pleasure  or  profit.  The  rebels  had 
already  paid  him  too  many  visits,  and  he  lived  in  perpetual 
dread  of  more  disagreeable  attentions.  However,  to  avoid 
these  attentions,  by  attempting  now  to  escape,  he  felt  would 
be  the  most  dangerous  and  impolitic  course  he  could 
pursue. 

'*  Is  it  me  ye  want?  "  he  called,  after  a  moment's  fearful 
hesitation. 

The  profane  reply  he  received  left  no  doubt  in  his  mind  on 
the  subject ;  and,  trembling  with  apprehensions  he  endeavored 
to  hide,  he  returned  to  the  road. 

"  Mebby  I've  been  harborin'  a  sjjy,  and  now  they'll  serve 
me  as  they  served  old  Ellsmer  yesterday  !  " 


THE    RETURN    OF    THE    GUERILLAS.  73 

Only  the  captain  and  one  other  horseman  remained  :  the 
rest  had  ridden  on  in  the  direction  of  Ellsmer's  house. 

"  How  de  do  ?  "  said  Enos,  nodding  with  a  ghastly  attempt 
at  cheerfulness. 

To  his  surprise,  the  men  made  no  inquiries  at  first  concern- 
ing the  lad  who  had  just  left  him.  They  wished  to  know  if 
he  had  heard  any  thing  of  the  young  conscript,  Ellsmer, 
whom  they  had  been  in  search  of  the  day  before;  or. if  he 
had  been  near  the  Ellsmer  premises.  Mr.  Crumlett's  an- 
swers to  these  questions  would  have  been  satisfactoiy  enough 
but  for  his  pale  looks  and  embarrassed  manner. 

"  Wasn't  there  somebody  with  you  when  I  first  called?  " 

**  Yes  :  boy  that  come  to  my  house  last  night;  said  he 
was  goin'  to  jiue  the  Confederate  anny." 

"  Where  was  you  going  with  him  ?  " 

*'  Wal,  nowhere  pa'tic'lar.  Ye  see,"  said  Enos,  '*  I  kind 
o'  wanted  to  know  more  about  him  :  so  I  follered  him  into 
the  woods." 

"You're  lying  to  me!"  said  the  captain.  "I  believe 
that  boy  was  young  Ellsmer  himself." 

"Then  the  quicker  ye  send  and  overhaul  him,  the  bet- 
ter !  "  ejaculated  Enos.  "  He's  no  more  Ellsmer  than  I  be, 
Captain  Grniffley.  Ketch  him  :  I  wish  you  would,  if  you've 
any  sich  idee." 

7 


74  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  I'll  attend  to  that,"  said  Gruffley.  "  Corporal,  wait  here, 
and  watch  the  woods.    Crumlett,  you  must  eorae  with  me." 

Hearing  this  stern  order,  Mrs.  Crumlett,  who  had  come  out 
of  the  house  and  approached  the  spot,  uttjred  a  shriek  of 
despair.  Her  husband's  dai'k  and  bitter  words  on  quitting 
the  house  had  left  her  in  the  lowest  kind  of  spirits,  and  now 
she  believed  her  worst  feai's  were  about  to  be  realized. 

"  Enos,  Enos  !  "  flinging  herself  on  his  neck,  "  what  will 
become  of  me  if  you're  took  away  ?  " 

AVhich  violent  demonstration  of  feeling  convinced  the  offi- 
cer of  Crumlett's  guilty  complicity  in  young  Ellsmer's  es- 
cape. 

"  You're  a  Northern  man,  and  youVe  long  been  suspected 
of  treachery  to  the  South.  Now,  if  it's  proved,  j'ou  swing ! 
No  more  words  !     Fling  off  that  woman  !     Mai'ch  !  " 

"  What  will  become  of  me?  what  will  become  of  mo  ?  " 
repeated  Mrs.  Crumlett,  wildly  wi'inging  her  hands.  "  Enos, 
Enos  !  hadn't  you  better  give  me  back  the  money  you  put 
into  your  pocket  ?  for  if  you  should  be  hung,  ye  know,  — 
think  of  me  and  the  children,  Enos !  " 

Mr.  Crumlett,  who  had  received  her  caresses  with  remorse- 
ful affection,  thinking  this  calamity  had  come  upon  him  as  a 
judgment  for  threatening  to  abandon  his  family,  now  tui'ncd 
from  her  wrathfully. 


THE    RETURN    OF    THE    GUERILLAS.  75 

"  By  jingoes !  if  you  think  more  of  a  little  money  than 
you  do  of  me,  good-by  !  "     And  he  marched  away. 

Fortunately  for  him,  proof  was  not  long  wanting  to  corrob- 
orate his  denial  of  the  charge  that  his  guest,  who  had  fled 
into  the  woods,  was  Ellsmer,  the  conscript. 

The  captain,  with  sabre  ratthng,  pistols  bristhng,  and  long 
bushy  hair  streaming  behind  under  his  bandit's  hat,  drove 
Enos  at  a  trot  along  the  road  towards  EUsmer's  house.  The 
rest  of  the  band  had  already  arrived  on  the  premises,  and  the 
house  was  surrounded ;  although,  after  the  thorough  search  of 
yesterday,  and  the  murder  of  the  parents^  it  was  scarcely  to 
be  supposed  that  the  deserter  still  hngered  about  the  old  place. 
The  guerillas  had  given  him  up,  and  retired,  after  the 
butchery.  They  had  now  returned,  perhaps  for  very  shame, 
to  cut  down  the  old  man,  and  to  buiy  him  and  the  old 
woman  from  the  light  of  God's  sun  and  the  eyes  of  men. 

"  Find  a  shovel  somewhere  !  Dig  a  hole  anywhere  ! 
Tumble  the  Union-shiiekers  in,  and  cover  'em  up  !  " 

A  spade  and  some  hoes  were  discovered  in  the  bam. 
Three  or  four  men  fell  to  digging  a  gTave.  The  rest  guarded 
the  approaches  to  the  house.  At  this  juncture  the  captain 
anived,  accompanied  by  the  worthy  Enos,  who  had  trotted 
himself  into  a  ludicrous  condition  of  breathlessness  and 
sweat. 


76  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

A  sergeant  of  the  party,  without  dismounting,  had  ridden 
up  to  the  porch  with  his  sword  drawn,  prepared  to  cut  old 
EUsmer  down.  Enos  forgot  his  side-ache,  his  asthma  and 
sweat,  in  the  horror  of  the  sight.  He  winked  invokmtarily 
at  the  sword  circling  through  the  au\  But  he  did  not  shut  his 
ears,  which  heard  distinctly  the  report  of  a  gun,  followed  by 
the  sound  of  a  body  tumbling  heavily  to  the  gi-ound.  AVhen 
he  opened  his  eyes,  he  looked  to  see  the  rope  severed  and  the 
hanged  man  fallen.  But  the  rope  was  untouched  :  there 
hung  the  old  man  still.  But  the  sergeant's  saddle  was 
emnty ;  it  was  he  who  had  fallen  :  his  sword  lay  on  the 
steps ;  there  was  a  bullet-hole  in  his  head.  That  was  the 
meaning  of  the  gunshot  Enos  had  heard.  Young  EUsmer, 
who  had  waited  so  long  for  his  revenge,  had  not  waited  in 
vain. 

"  He  is  in  the  house  !  "  shouted  the  guerillas,  faUing  back 
in  consternation  at  the  sight. 

They  rallied  quickly,  however.  Five  men  rushed  into  the 
house  with  drawn  sabres  and  pistols  cocked,  while  their  com- 
panions kept  guard  outside.  A  glimpse  of  the  conscript  had 
liecn  seen,  after  the  firing  of  the  gun  within :  the  smell  of 
the  powder  was  still  in  the  room.  But  where  was  he  ?  In 
the  mterval  that  elapsed  between  the  shooting  of  the  sergeant 
and  the  entrance  of  the  Eiders,  the  fugitive  had  disappeared. 


THE    RETURN    OF    THE    GUERILLAS.  77 

He  had  certainly  not  left  the  house ;  nor  yet  was  he  any- 
where to  be  found  in  it.  A  thorough  search  from  cellar  to 
attic  revealed  no  trace  of  him. 

"Never  mind!  waste  no  more  time,  boys!"  cried  the 
captain.     "  Fh-e  the  house  !  " 

The  house  was  filled  in  several  rooms  at  once,  and  the 
guerillas  surrounded  it  to  see  it  burn. 

"  Now  let  hun  roast,  or  come  out  and  be  shot !  "  said  they, 

hungry  to  be  revenged  for  their  comrade's  death. 

7* 


THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


OLD   FRIENDS. 

N  the  city  of  Nasliville,  a  few  evenings  previous 
to  the  events  just  related,  two  men  were  engaged 
in  private  conversation  at  the  head-quarters  of 
the  army  police.  One  of  them  was  an  officer  of  the  depart- 
ment :  the  other  was  a  negi'o.  Their  chairs  were  drawn  near 
together,  and  they  sat  face  to  face,  —  the  officer  speaking  in 
low,  confidential  tones  ;  while  the  negro  listened  with  singu- 
larly calm,  intelhgent,  proud  features,  giving  now  and  then  a 
nod,  a  smile,  or  brief  word,  in  reply. 

"  But  how  to  trap  him  ?  that  is  the  question  !  "  the  officer 
was  saying.  "  He  knows  he  is  suspected,  and  is  as  sly  as 
any  old  fox.  There's  no  doubt  but  that  he  is  in  the  practice 
of  smuo-o-lino;  contraband  o;oods  and  information  throup;h  our 
hues  to  the  enemy  :  but  he  seems  to  know  a  detective  by 
instinct ;  and,  with  that  veneral)le  white  beard  and  smooth 
tongue  of  his,  he  has  outwitted  some  of  our  best  men.  But 
now,  though  he  has  been  so  careful  to  keep  clear  of  the  traps 


OLD    FRIENDS.  79 

we  havo  set  for  him,  there  is  a  chance  of  his  getting  caught 
in  one  of  his  own.  It  is  a  very  delicate  piece  of  business, 
and  we  need  your  assistance." 

The  negro  nodded  with  a  peculiar  smile.  The  officer 
understood  its  meanino:. 

"Yes,  I  know  your  readiness  to  undertake  any  service 
that  has  danger  to  recoiBmend  it.     But  this  is  somethinf^ 

o 

different  from  what  you  have  been  used  to.  It  is  not  to  risk 
your  life  passing  the  enemy's  pickets,  creeping  around  his 
camp,  hiding  in  the  woods,  dodging  his  cavalry,  picking  off 
his  scouts  with  that  famous  rifle  of  yours,  and  never  coming 
in  until  you  have  gained  us  some  important  information  worth 
risking  your  life  for.  This  man  has  made  a  request  for 
negroes  to  work  on  his  farm,  outside  of  our  picket  lines.  He 
thmks  we  ought  to  let  him  have  them  to  repau-  some  fences 
our  soldiers  have  destroyed.  His  own  negroes  have  been 
sent  down  into  Georgia  to  prevent  their  escape  to  us.  Now, 
I  propose  to  let  them  have  one  stout  fellow,  and  that  you 
shall  be  the  man." 

The  negro  nodded  again  with 'a  thoughtful  and  dubious 
frown. 

**  He  will  come  to  the  fortifications  to-morrow,  where  the 
engineers  are  at  work,  to  learn  if  his  request  is  gi-anted. 
You  must  be  there.     Captain  Jones,  to  whom  he  made  the 


80  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

request,  will  say,  '  I  have  permission  to  let  you  take  one 
man,  if  there's  any  that  will  go  with  you  ;  but  I  cannot  com- 
pel any  to  go.'  He  will  then  call  you  to  him,  as  if  select- 
ing you  by  chance.  You  will  be  in  the  gai'b  and  have  the 
air  of  a  laborer.  It  will  be  easy  for  you  to  assume  the 
clothes ;  but  not  so  easy,  I  fear,  to  put  off  that  proud  look 
of  yours,  which  shows  at  once  that  you  would  not  be  a  very 
easy  subject  to  manage.     Do  you  think  you  can  do  it?  " 

"  I  can  do  any  thing  for  the  service,  sir,"  answered  the 
black. 

"  Then  we  shall  succeed.  The  captain  will  say,  '  Here, 
Bill :  will  you  go  with  this  man  ?  He  will  pay  you.'  Then 
you  will  make  a  bargain  with  him,  and  a  hard  bargain 
too  ;  for  he  must  not  think  you  go  willingly.  With  regard 
to  that,  however,  I  need  give  you  no  instructions.  The 
thing  is  this  :  You  are  to  go  with  him,  and  even  set  to  work 
repairing  his  fences,  if  necessary;  but,  at  the  same  time, 
keep  your  eyes  open,  see  every  thing  that  is  going  on,  learn 
all  about  his  operations,  and  return  here  when  you  get  ready. 
I  am  confident  he  has  other  work  for  you  to  do  besides 
making  fences,  and  that  you  can  get  at  some  secrets  our 
detectives  couldn't." 

x\t  that  moment  an  ofBcial  looked  into  the  room.  "I 
liave  brought  that  boy  you  sent  for,  colonel,"  said  he. 
"  \Yill  you  sec  him  now "'  " 


OLD    FRIENDS.  .    81 

"Yes:  brill o;  him  in.  Meanwhile,"  —  to  the  neo-ro, — 
"  you  can  be  considering  what  I  have  said.  Sit  in  the 
corner  there.  I  shall  be  through  with  this  other  case  in  a  few 
minutes." 

The  official  entered,  conducting  a  lad  in  the  uniforai  of  a 
United-States  private,  with  a  broad,  good-humored  face,  un- 
mistakably German.  The  negro,  in  the  mean  time,  had  en- 
sconced hmiself  in  the  corner,  where  he  sat  in  shadow,  with 
his  chin  upon  his  hand. 

The  colonel  spoke  pleasantly  to  the  boy,  inquired  his  name, 
the  number  of  his  regiment,  the  length  of  time  he  had  been 
in  the  service,  and  so  forth ;  to  all  which  questions  he 
returned  deliberate  and  precise  replies,  in  accents  as  decided- 
ly German  as  his  face. 

*'  And  now  it  is  proposed  to  you  to  desert,  I  understand," 
said  the  colonel. 

"  Yat  you  unterstand  is  wery  tme,"  said  the  boy. 

"  Well,  sit  down  here,  and  tell  me  all  about  it." 

The  lad  asked  permission  first  to  help  himself  to  a  glass  of 
water  from  a  pitchy  that  stood  on  the  table  :  "  It  is  such  dry 
times  talking,"  he  remarked.  And,  having  drank,  he  seated 
himself,  and  began  his  story. 

"  It  is  two  days  now,  a  man  comes  into  our  camp,  who  is 
aTutch  Chew." 


82  TBE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  A  Tutcli  Chew  ?     Ob  !  you  mean  a  Geraian  Jew  ?  " 

'^  That  is  vat  I  mean  :  a  Hebrew  from  my  country. 
And,  ven  he  sees  me,  he  just  gives  me  van  little  vink  out  of 
bis  eye,  —  so  ;  and  says  to  me,  in  our  language,  that  I  am 
Tutch  as  he." 

''How  did  be  know  that?" 

"  That  is  vat  vas  so  queer  :  for  I  do  not  look  wery 
Tutch,  nor  speak  so  ;  do  I  ?  But  he  picks  me  out,  and  I 
vas  pleased  to  make  acquaintance  ;  till  be  says  to  me,  '  Vat 
for  you  let  youi'self  to  be  a  tam  Yankee  soldier  ?  '  And  be 
says,  '  I  could  put  you  into  a  pizness  petter  as  that ! '  And 
he  vinks  again  to  me  out  of  bis  eyes  ;  and  he  says,  '  I  can 
show  you  to  make  five  bunder'  toUar  in  two  vcoks.'  —  '  That 
is  much  money,'  I  says  to  him.  '  It  is  wery  much  for  two 
veeks,  and  a  poy  as  you,'  he  says  to  me.  '  I  vould  not  tell 
anypody  else  ;  but  I  vill  tell  you.'  And  so  be  tells  me.  He 
says  be  vill  help  me  to  desert  from  my  regiment,  and  give  me 
some  clothes  as  nopody  shall  know  me  ven  I  vonce  have  'em 
on  ;  and  then  he  vill  get  me  a  pass  to  go  through  the  lines, 
and  give  me  some  goods  to  sell,  and  I  shall  go  sell  them  to  the 
rebels,  and  make  fifty  toUars  for  vun,  easy,  and  give  him  half 
ven  I  shall  come  pack.  He  says  ho  has  sent  out  two,  tree 
poys,  that  have  smuggled  for  him,  and  made  much  money. 
Then  be  says,  '  You  get  a  furlough  to  coine  into  the  city  to 


OLD    FniENDS.  83 

wi^^it  your  relations  :  if  not,  then  you  just  slip  by  the  guard 
some  dark  night. '  And  he  says  his  name  is  Yoseph  ;  but  he 
vill  not  tell  me  his  firm,  or  the  house  vai-e  his  goods  are 
smuggled,  fear  of  trouble.  But  he  says,  '  You  get  into  the 
city,  and  come  to  the  street  and  house,  so,'  —  vich  he 
iiiai"ks  on  this  paper,  —  '  and  ask  for  Yoseph,  and  you  shall 
find  me,  and  I  vill  do  vat  I  promise.'  " 

The  lad  produced  the  paper.  The  colonel,  who  had  listened 
with  keen  interest,  examined  it  carefully. 

"  Well,  did  you  agree  to  his  proposition?  " 

"Not  wery  much."  The  boy  laughed  with  an  expression 
of  shrewd  good-humor.  "  I  say  to  myself,  '  This  fellow  is  a 
willain  !  Suppose  I  let  him  go  on  and  tell  just  how  much  he 
is  a  willain,  if  that  vill  please  him.'  For  I  hear  the  Chews 
are  pad  men  here ;  that  they  help  spies  and  smugglers,  and 
are  wery  slippery  to  catch.  So  I  say,  '  You  shall  hear  from 
me  so  soon  as  conwenient.'  Then,  ven  he  is  gone,  I  go 
straight  to  my  captain  and  show  him  this  paper,  and  say  to 
him,  '  If  it  is  the  same  thing  to  you,  I  should  like  to  desert, 
and  go  and  make  some  money.'  That  vas  for  fun,  you 
know.  But  my  captain  says,  *  Keep  quiet,  my  boy,  and  may 
be  ve  shall  catch  these  rogues.'  Then  he  wiites  a  letter  to 
you  ;  and  so  I  suppose  you  send  for  me." 

The  colonel  regarded  the  lad   searchingly,  and  asked  him 


81  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

many  questions.  He  seemed  studying  to  learn  just  how  far 
he  could  make  use  of  him  to  advantage,  —  how  far  it  would 
be  safe  to  trust  his  honesty  and  shrewdness ;  when  suddenly 
the  negro  left  his  comer,  and  came  forward. 

"Colonel,"  said  he  with  cordial  emphasis,  "you  can 
trust  this  boy  to  any  extent.  I  know  him  well ;  and  I  am 
light  glad  to  see  him  !  "  He  extended  his  hand,  which 
the  youngster  seized  as  if  it  had  been  a  brother's.  "  Cai'l, 
how  are  you  'i ' ' 

"  Pomp  I  I  thought  it  vas  you  !  "  exclaimed  Carl,  with 
tears  of  joy  brimming  his  bright  blue  eyes. 

The  colonel,  surprised  at  the  recognition,  wished  to  know 
where  the  two  had  become  acquainted. 

' '  I  vas  vun  of  the  Union  refugees  he  guided  over  the 
mountains  from  East  Tennessee  last  year,"  said  Carl  eagerly. 
"  Ye  had  been  driven  to  a  cave  there  by  the  rebs.  You 
have  heard  of  Cudjo's  Cave?  That  vas  the  place.  A  wery 
long  story  it  vould  be  to  tell ;  but  the  short  of  it  is,  ven 
Cudjo  vas  killed,  and  lSh\  Willars  and  Wirginie  had  got 
away,  then  ve  conclude  it  vas  time  to  close  that  hotel  for  the 
season,  and  take  a  little  journey  into  Kentucky,  —  for  our 
healths,  you  know.  Yell,  it  vas  a  rough  road  to  travel ;  but 
ve  come  to  Camp  Dick  Robin.'on  at  last,  and  that  vas  the  last 
ever  I  see  of  Pomp  till  now.     But  I  hear  of  him,  though. 


OLD    FRIENDS.  85 

He  vas  a  scout  in  Eastern  Kentucky  for  General  Nelson, 
and  more  so  for  General  Gai-field;  and  some  on  liis  own 
hook,  yen  he  had  nothing  else  to  do." 

''And  what  became  of  you,"  said  Pomp,  "and  the 
schoolmaster?" 

"After  ve  said  good-pie  to  you  and  Stackridge,  ve  kept 
straight  on  to  Pennsylwany,  — just  going  out  of  our  vay  a 
little,  you  know,  to  pay  a  wisit  to  Wirginie  and  her  father, 
who  had  got  safe  to  Ohio.  Then  ve  go  to  IVIr.  Hapgood's 
home,  yair  he  enlists,  wery  much  to  the  surprise  and  dishgust 
of  some  good  friends  of  his.  But  I  did  not  wolunteer  then. 
He  said  I  vas  so  young,  I  must  stay  at  home,  and  take  care 
of  his  sisters ;  and  wery  pleasant  persons  they  vas  to  take 
care  of  too,"  said  Cai'l,  blushing.  "  But,  after  that,  he  vas 
detached  from  his  regiment,  and  promoted  to  be  a  lieutenant 
in  the  regiment  ve  are  now  in.  And  vun  of  his  sisters  vas 
married;  and  the  other,"  —  Carl  dropped  his  eyes,  —  "she 
has  gone  to  live  with  the  man-ied  vun,  you  unterstandt.  So 
he  did  not  preweut  me  any  more,  and  that  is  the  reason  I 
enlishted  unter  him.  He  has  been  promoted  vunco  since  ; 
and  that  is  the  reason  he  is  now  my  captain." 

"  Well,  Carl,  if  you  will  consent  to,  part  from  your  captain 
for  a  fej?  days,  and  do  a  little  work  for  me,  I  shall  be  gi'eatly 
obliged   to  you.       These   smugglers,  and  particularly  your 


86  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

friends  the  Jews,  are  the  pest  of  this  department.  I  should 
like  to  catch  that  Joseph,  —  or  Yoseph,  as  you  call  him,  — 
and  as  many  of  his  tribe  as  can  be  drawn  into  the  net.  Sup- 
pose you  desert.  You  have  got  permission  to  come  into 
the  city  to  see  your  friends ;  and,  now,  suppose  you  give 
Joseph  a  call.  Find  out  where  he  is,  and  all  about  him. 
Loarn  who  his  accomplices  are,  what  are  his  plans,  and  all 
that.  Agree  to  every  thing  he  proposes,  even  if  it  is  to 
smuggle  goods  to  the  rebels ;  and  then  report  to  me.  Will 
your- 

"I  suppose  I  shall  do  any  thing  you  say;  for  that  vas 
Captain  Hapgood's  orders,"  replied  Carl,  with  a  bright  look, 
which  showed  that  he  scented  sport  in  the  adventure. 

The  colonel  gave  him  still  fiu'ther  instructions  with  regard 
to  his  dealings  with  the  Jew ;  then  called  the  officer  who  had 
brought  him  in. 

"  This  man  will  show  you  the  street  and  house  marked  on 
this  paper ;  but  do  not  let  it  appear  that  he  is  showing  you 
tlje  way.  He  or  some  of  our  men  will  be  near  you  day 
and  night.  "V\Tien  you  wish  to  communicate  with  me,  appear 
on  the  street  with  this  little  flag  pinned  to  your  cap  or  coat- 
sleeve.  This  is  the  signal  by  which  you  will  know  my 
man."  And  the  colonel,  drawing  his  handkerchief  from  his 
pocket,  shook  it,  and  put  it  back  again.     "  He  will  make 


OLD    FRIENDS.  87 

ofi,  and  joii  follow  him  at  a  distance.  When  the  coast  is 
clear,  you  will  speak  to  him,  or  you  will  follow  him  here. 
The  rest  I  leave  to  your  own  good  wit  and  discretion." 

Carl  scratched  his  ear :  he  seemed  to  have  a  doubt  on 
some  subject. 

"  I  suppose  it  vill  be  right  for  me  to  fool  him?  He  is 
from  my  country ;  and  vat  I  vould  never  do  is  betray  a 
fi'iend." 

"  Depend  upon  it,  he  is  no  friend  of  yours  :  it  was  only  to 
make  a  tool  of  you,  for  his  own  villanous  purposes,  that  he 
sought  you  out." 
■  "  That  is  vat  I  think,"  said  Carl,  brightening. 

**  Besides,  it  is  right  to  circumvent  traitors  at  all  times." 

"Wery  good:  I  shall  try  to  circumwent  'em!"  And 
Carl,  taking  leave  of  Pomp  and  the  colonel,  departed  with 
his  guide. 

The  business  which  his  arrival  had  interrupted  was  now  re- 
sumed, and  speedily  concluded ;  Pomp  engaging  to  under- 
take the  job  proposed  to  him. 


88  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


IX. 


Tffi:  RESCUE. 

MMEDIATELY  on  parting  from  Mr.  Crumlett, 
Fred  slipped  through  the  bushes,  and  dashed 
into  the  woods ;  fii-mly  believing  that  he  was  the 
person  the  guerillas  were  in  quest  of,  and  expecting  pur- 
suit. 

No  horsemen  came  after  him,  however.  "They'll  go 
around  by  the  road  to  head  me  off!  "  thought  he.  "  My 
best  way  is  to  hide." 

To  conceal  himself  in  some  spot  where  he  could  observe 
the  movements  on  the  turnpike,  without  being  himself  per- 
ceived, seemed  the  wisest  thing  he  could  do.  He  remem- 
bered the  thichet  by  the  brook,  where  he  had  lain  hid  so  long 
the  day  before.  Towards  this  he  made  his  way  with  all  con- 
venient speed,  keeping  a  sharp  lookout  the  while  for  rebel 
horsemen. 

He  reached  the  thicket  in  safety,  and  crept  into  it.  The 
rustling  of  dry  leaves  and  crackling  of  twigs  where  he  passed 


TEE    RESCUE.  89 

had  ceased ;  the  beating  of  his  heart  had  become  still ;  he 
could  hear  the  trickling  of  the  little  brook  among  the  stones ; 
when  three  horsemen  appeared  on  the  turnpike,  and  turned 
aside  into  the  woods. 

They  rode  du-ectly  towards  the  thicket  where  he  lay  watch- 
ing them  through  the  net-work  of  saplings.  Two  of  them 
were  tall,  lank,  coarse-looking  men,  with  vicious  faces :  the 
other  was  a  person  of  venerable  aspect,  with  hair  and  beard 
white  as  snow. 

Between  the  two  younger  men  of  the  party  was  a  led 
horse,  upon  the  back  of  which  was  bound  some  strange 
burden.  It  was  some  time  before  Fred  could  make  out  what 
it  was.  The  party  halted  at  the  little  watering-place  scooped 
out  of  the  bed  of  the  brook :  there  the  younger  men  dis- 
mounted, and  took  turns  drinking,  —  one  holding  back  the 
horses,  while  the  other  got  down  on  his  face,  and  drank.  The 
horses  were  then  watered.  The  old  man  did  not  dismount, 
but  sat  in  his  saddle,  watching  the  burden  on  the  led  horse, 
with  gray  eyes  twinkling  complacently  under  his  white  eye- 
brows. 

And  now  Fred  was  enabled  by  degrees  to  make  out  what 
that  burden  was.  "  Dead  or  alive,  it  is  a  man !  "  thouoht 
he  with  a  thrill  of  horror ;  for  it  was  not  a  man  sitting  up- 
right on  the  horse,  but  a  figure  bound  hand  and  foot,  stretched 


90  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

lengthwise  along  the  animal's  back,  and  secured  by  ropes 
wound  snake-like  around  botb  horse  and  man.  His  head 
hung  down  helplessly  on  one  side  of  the  horse's  neck.  Fred 
saw  the  face :  it  was  that  of  a  negro.  There  was  a  gag  in 
the  mouth  ;  and  the  eyes,  rolHng  with  an  expression  of  agony, 
betrayed  that  the  man  was  alive. 

"  He  will  bring  two  thousand  dollars  in  Atlanta,"  said  the 
old  man  with  a  thoughtful  smile.  "You'll  do  so  well  with 
him,  boys,  you  ought  to  give  me  a  hundred  extra." 

"A  bargain's  a  bargain,  deacon!"  rephed  one  of  the 
young  men  with  a  coarse  laugh  of  satisfaction.  "  S'pose  we 
do  get  two  thousand  :  that's  only  six  hundi'ed  apiece  for  us, 
after  paying  youi'  share.  I'll  fix  that  with  you  now,  soon  as 
you  please.  Carter'll  stay  here  and  watch  the  nigger, 
while  we  go  back  to  the  tavern  and  get  pen  and  ink  to  write 
a  receipt  with." 

"Don't  be  gone  long,  neither,"  said  Carter;;  "for  it's 
about  time  to  ease  up  on  the  ropes  a  little,  and  take  the  gag 
out,  I  reckon." 

"Not  yet  awhile,"  replied  Carter's  companion  grimly. 
"  He  ain't  tame  enough  yet.  Nothing  tames  a  nigger  like 
toting  him  that  fashion.  He'll  be  as  gentle  as  a  kitten  when 
we  come  to  put  him  into  a  wagon.     Now,  old  deacon  !  " 

The  venerable  man  went  away  with  the  speaker,  and  the 
two  soon  disappeared  on  the  turnpike. 


THE    RESCUE.  91 

Carter  remained,  and  watched  the  negro;  while  Fred,  in  his 
ambush,  watched  both. 

"Getting  uneasy  ?  "  said  Carter,  shipping  the  thigh  of  the 
blaclf  Mazeppa.  "Wal,  it's  rough,  that's  so;  but  'twill  do 
ye  good,  my  bo}^  —  do  ye  good  !"  Another  hearty  slap. 
"  We  had  too  much  trouble  tying  ye  in  the  fii'st  place,  to  let 
ye  loose  in  a  hurry,  —  a  plucky  boy  like  you  !  Now  make 
youi'self  comfortable  as  you  can  while  I  stretch." 

The  horses  were  tied  to  a  tree,  and  Carter  lay  upon  the 
ground  beside  them.  Almost  immediately  Fred  could  hear 
him  snore  :  for  a  moment  only,  however  ;  the  sound  itself  ap- 
pearing to  awaken  the  sleeper. 

"Blast  me,"  said  he,  starting  up,  "if  I  wasn't  on  the 
pint  of  snoozing !  This  beuig  up  all  night,  nigger-ketching, 
makes  a  fellow  sleepy  as  a  bar  in  the  dead  of  winter,  next 
day.  But  don't  be  skeert,  my  boy  :  I  shall  keep  awake,  for 
company,  —  so's  't  ye  won't  be  lonesome,  ye  know." 

Having  said  this,  the  man  suffered  his  head  to  droop  until 
once  more  it  rested  on  the  ground.  In  a  few  seconds,  he 
snored  again.  This  time  the  sound  did  not  awake  hun.  He 
was  fast  asleep. 

Then  the  negro  began  desperately  to  struggle  with  his 
bonds.  He  was  evidently  a  man  of  great  strength ;  for  the 
tension  of  the  ropee,  as  he  strained  at  them,  put  the  horse  in 


92  THE     THREE    SCOUTS. 

pain.  The  animal  bounded  forward  ;  then  backed  suddenly, 
tugging  at  liis  halter  ;  and  finally  attempted  to  lie  down  and 
roll.  These  movements,  so  near  the  head  of  the  sleeper, 
awoke  him.     He  rose  to  a  sitting  posture. 

"  What's  that  beast  trying  to  do  ?  Stand  up,  Lark  !  "  He 
struck  the  horse  with  a  whip,  without  noticing  that  the  negi'o's 
legs  came  in  for  a  share  of  the  blow.  "  Now  be  still,  can't 
ye  ?  "    And  he  stretched  himself  once  more  upon  the  bank. 

The  negro's  condition  seemed  hopeless.  He  could  not  free 
his  hands  from  the  rope,  nor  attempt  to  break  it  without  start- 
ing the  horse  again.  He  lifted  his  head,  and  rolled  his  03'cs 
about  him  despairingly.  They  rested  on  an  object  which  at 
once  inspired  him  with  courage.  It  was  a  boy  creeping  from 
the  thicket,  with  one  hand  on  the  ground,  and  the  other 
raised  with  a  gesture  of  secrecy  and  warning. 

The  negro  waited  motionless.  His  guardian  slept  on  the 
bank.  Fred  advanced  cautiously,  yet  making  the  twigs 
snap  and  leaves  rustle  at  every  movement.  Stopping  only 
to  assure  himself  from  time  to  time  that  Carter  still  slept,  he 
approached  the  brooklet  which  was  to  be  crossed,  went  over 
on  hands  and  knees,  and  crouched  behind  the  tree  to  wliieh 
the  horses  were  tied.  Already  he  had  taken  from  his  pocket 
the  knife  with  which,  the  day  before,  ha  had  come  so  near 
assassinating  Daniels.     This  time  he  did  fiot  open  it  with  his 


THE    RESCUE.  93 

teeth.  When  he  arose  to  his  feet,  it  was  open  in  his  hand. 
Quickly,  and  with  little  noise,  he  cut  the  negi'o's  bands.  A 
moment  later,  the  negro  was  himself  crouching  by  the  tree : 
he  relieved  his  own  mouth  of  the  gag,  and  stripped  the  frag- 
ments of  the  rope  from  his  wrists  and  limbs ;  and  still  the 
sleeper  slept. 

A  terrible  smile  lighted  up  the  black  man's  face.  Fred 
saw  that  he  was  a  person  of  powerful  bone  and  muscle,  but 
that  he  was  nearly  disabled  by  injuries  he  had  received.  His 
limbs  were  so  stiff,  that  he  could  with  difficulty  stand.  Flight 
from  his  captors  was  out  of  the  question.  What  was  to  be 
done  ? 

**  Mount  the  horse  !  "  said  Fred  in  a  whisper. 

But  the  negro  shook  his  head :  evidently  he  knew  well 
that  escape  on  horseback  by  daylight,  in  that  region,  would 
be  impossible. 

He  motioned  Fred  to  give  him  the  knife.  Fred  gave  it. 
The  negro  then  pointed  at  the  led  horse.  "  Turn  him  loose  !  " 
he  said,  with  lips  so  sore  and  rigid  from  the  effects  of  the 
gag,  that  articulation  was  painful. 

As  he  spoke,  he  crept  to  the  side  of  the  sleeping  man,  and 
held  the  knife  over  hun.  ready  to  plunge  it  into  his  heart 
should  he  awake. 

Fred  doubted  the  pohcy  of  turning  the  horse  loose.     Yet 


94  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

there  was  sometbino'  in  the  neoTo's  look  and  manner  — 
sagacious,  resolute,  commanding  —  that  impelled  him  to 
obey.  There  was  on  the  head  of  the  led  horse  a  halter  only. 
That  Fred  slipped  off,  leaving  it  tied  to  the  tree.  Imme- 
diately the  animal,  appreciating  the  delights  of  freedom,  es- 
pecially after  bearing  so  uncomfortable  a  bui'den,  frisked, 
and  walked  away.  All  this  time,  the  kidnapper,  having 
gi'own  accustomed  to  the  movements  of  the  horses,  —  for  his 
own  horse  was  pawing,  —  enjoyed  that  profound  sleep  which 
sometimes  visits  the  wicked  as  well  as  the  innocent. 

So  much  accomplished,  the  negro^,  still  holding  the  knife 
over  his  captor's  heart,  du*ected  Fred,  with  a  gesture  of  his 
unoccupied  hand,  to  return  to  the  thicket.  Fred,  beginning 
to  comprehend  the  stratagem,  obeyed.  He  had  scai'cely  con- 
cealed himself,  when  the  black,  softly  withdrawing  ftom  his 
position,  gathered  up  the  fragments  of  the  rope,  and  followed 
him.  Before  entering  the  thicket,  however,  he  paused,  and 
threw  a  pebble  picked  from  the  bed  of  the  brook,  hitting  the 
heels  of  the  released  horse,  as  he  was  walking  somewhat  too 
leisurely  away.  The  horse  started  off  on  a  trot  through  the 
woods,  and  the  negro  crept  into  the  thicket. 


A     CHANCE    FOR    A     SPECULATION.  95 


X. 

A    CHANCE  FOR  A   SPECULATION. 

OT  a  word  was  spoken.  The  little  brook  trickled 
|)  with  a  pleasant  sound  among  the  stones,  the 
wind  stured  the  trees,  and  the  kidnapper  snored 
on  the  bank.  The  negro  laid  his  hand  *on  Fred's  foot,  and 
they  exchanged  exultant  glances.  After  that  they  scarcely 
looked  at  each  other,  but  waited,  lying  close  to  the  ground, 
and  peering  through  the  bushes. 

In  about  half  an  hour,  iha  other  kidnapper  was  heard  re- 
turning. He  rode  up  the  bank  of  the  brook,  whistling  a  gay 
tune.  He  had  got  rid  of  the  old  -  deacon  ;  "  and  now  he 
possessed  a  clear  claim  to  one-half  of  the  neoro 

o 

"Two  thousand.  Carter?"  he  cried  in  the  distance,  ceas- 
ing to  whistle.  -  We'U  get  three  thousand,  if  we  do  a 
dollar  !     Three  thousand  or  nothing,  I  say  !  " 

"Yes,  three  thousand  or  noth—  Hillo !  "  said  Carter, 
stai-ting  up.     "  Whar  >-  whar  is  the  nio-o-er  ? ' ' 


96  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

The  returning  kidnapper  now  perceived,  that,  where  he  had 
supposed  two  horses  were  standing,  there  was  but  one. 

"  Carter !  "  he  exclaimed  with  a  great  oath,  spurring  to 
the  spot,  "  what  have  you  done  with  the  nigger  ?  " 

"Me?"  said  Cai'ter,  stupefied.  "It's  you,  Bodson !  " 
turning  fui'iously  upon  his  accomplice.  "  You've  robbed 
me !  You  and  that  cussed  old  deacon  have  come  and  tuk 
away  the  nigger  in  my  sleep  !  " 

"None  o'  that !  "  said  Bodson,  springing  fi-om  his  horse, 
and  di-awing  a  tremendous  bowie-knife.  "  I'll  slice  ye  as  I 
would  a  chicken  !  " 

"No,  ye  won't !  "  retorted  Cai'ter,  producing  a  revolver, 
and  levelling  it.  "  Come  an  inch  nearer,  and  I'll  let  day- 
light through  ye  !  " 

The  enraged  kidnappers  stood  confronting  each  other,  little 
knowing  what  interested  spectators  were  witnessing  the 
scene.  The  negro's  grasp  tightened  on  Fred's  foot ;  and, 
looking  back,  the  boy  saw  the  ebon  visage  glowing  with 
triumph. 

"Now  give  an  account  of  yerself!"  said  Bodson,  still 
menacing  his  friend  with  the  bowie-knife,  but  manifesting  a 
wholesome  respect  for  the  pistol.  "  Who's  yer  pardner  in 
this  trick  ?  AYhar's  he  gone  with  the  nigger  ?  No  use  of 
yer  denying  what's  as  plain  as  daylight  through  a  Virginny 


A    CHANCE    FOR    A    SPECULATION.  97 

fence.  Ye  hain't  been  asleep  at  all.  Ye  only  pretend. 
But  ye  can't  fool  me  ! '' 

Bodson's  earnestness  began  to  make  an  impression  on 
Carter;  and  Carter's  astonishment  and  wrath  produced  a 
similar  effect  on  his  friend  Bodson. 

"  K  you  and  the  old  man  didnH  come  and  steal  the  m'gger, 
then  somebody  else  did,  —  hoss  and  all ;  or  else  he  rubbed 
his  halter  off!  That  must  be  the  way  on't.  So,  'stead  of 
fighting  about  an  accident,  le's  hunt  up  the  hoss.  One 
thing's  sure,  — the  nigger  never  could  git  off  his  back  without 
help.     Find  the  hoss,  and  we  find  the  nigger." 

Bodson  was  more  than  half  convinced  of  his  friend's 
sincerity;  but  his  rage  did  not  abate.  That  Carter,  who  had 
been  left  to  guard  their  captive,  should  stupidly  fall  asleep, 
and  suffer  the  horse  to  slip  his  halter  and  walk  away,  was,  in 
his  eyes,  an  unpardonable  offence. 

"  If  ye'd  stole  him,  I  should  think  more  on  ye.  I  knew 
ye  was  something  of  a  rascal,  and  I  don't  object  to  that ;  but 
I  didn't  think  ye  was  a  fool !  " 

However,  he  agreed  with  Carter  that  no  time  was  to  be  lost 
in  quarrelling ;  and,  leading  their  horses,  they  wandered  away 
in  the  woods,  searching  for  the  tracks  of  the  missing  animal. 

"  They  are  on  his  trail !  "  said  the  negro,  watching  them 
from  the  thicket's  edge.     "  As  Soon  as  they  find  the  horse. 


98     •  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

they'll  come  back  here  to  hunt  for  the  '  nigger  '  !  "  he  added, 
laughing.  "They  took  me  once  at  a  disadvantage;  but  they 
don't  take  me  again  !  " 

"  You  were  kidnapped?  " 

"  Yes  :  that  gray-headed  villain  took  me  out  from  Nash- 
ville to  repair  damages  the  Union  soldiers  had  done  to  his 
fences.  But  his  real  object  was  to  kidnap  and  sell  me.  As 
it  was  my  business  to  learn  what  his  object  was,  I  allowed 
him  to  get  me  in  his  power." 

**  How  your  business  ?  " 

•*  Never  mmd  about  that  now.  It  was  my  busmess  :  so, 
when  he  called  me  up  last  night  to  go  and  take  care  of  some 
horses,  I  went ;  saw  one  of  those  men  at  the  stable,  and 
received  a  blow  on  the  head  from  another  I  did  not  see. 
I  was  knocked  down,  and  bound.  Then  the  old  man  himself 
helped  them  tie  me  on  to  the  horse.  .  They  carried  me  that 
way,  in  order  that  they  might  come  by  paths  where  wagons 
wouldn't  pass.  They  were  not  to  pay  the  old  man  his  share 
of  the  profits  untd  they  had  got  me  safe  beyond  both  army 
lines ;  and  so  he  came  with  them  here.  You  are  a  Union 
boy  ?  I  thought  so :  one  of  the  prisoners  taken  yesterday 
rjoming  ?     I  heard  of  that  affair.     How  did  you  escape  ?  " 

Fred  was  telling  his  story,  when  the  negro  stopped  him. 

' '  See  !  they  are  going  out  of  sight !     They  haven't  found 


A     CHANCE    FOR    A     SPECULATION.  99 

the  horse  yet ;  but  tbey  will  find  him  soon.  Then,  whether 
they'll  hunt  further  for  the  *  nigger,'  or  hasten  back  here  first, 
is  a  question.  At  all  events,  we  had  better  not  remain. 
The  man's  name  was  Daniels  who  rescued  you,  did  you  say  ?  " 

**  Yes  :  do  you  know  him  ?  " 

*'  If  he  is  the  man  I  think,"  said  the  negro,  "  I  know  him, 
and  I  know  yi^u  can  trust  him.  If  you  see  him  again,  ask 
him  if  he  knows  Pomp." 

*'  Is  that  your  name  ?  " 

"  It  is  one  of  my  names  :  it  is  the  name  he  knows  me 
by,"  answered  the  negro  with  a  smile.     "  Now  is  the  time  !  " 

And  before  Fred  could  stop  him,  or  demand  what  course 
he  proposed  to  pursue,  Pomp  sprang  out  of  the  bushes. 
Fred  followed.  In  order  not  to  leave  any  tracks  to  betray 
them,  they  avoided  the  soft  gi'ound  of  the  banks,  but  kept 
the  bed  of  the  brook,  tracing  its  course  up  into  the  woods. 
Pomp  had  recovered  from  his  soreness  of  joint  and  muscle 
suf&ciently  to  make  good  speed  over  the  dry  stones.  Fred, 
perceiving  that  they  were  approaching  the  edge  of  the  woods, 
beyond  which  was  the  cross-road  where  Crumlett  lived,  and 
where  he  had  last  seen  the  guerillas,  called  to  him  to  stop. 

"  In  the  brush  yonder!"  said  Pomp;  and,  leading ,  the 
way  to  another  thick  undergrowth,  he  found  an  opening,  and 
cropt  into  it. 


100  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

In  tlie  midst  of  the  thicket  were  a  few  saphngs  taller  than 
the  rest.  One  of  these  Pomp  climbed  in  order  to  take  an 
observation. 

**  They  have  found  the  horse  !  "  he  said.  "  They  are  lead- 
ing him  back  to  the  watering-place.  You  can  hear  them 
swear,  even  at  this  distance." 

Fred  not  only  heard,  but  he  could  soon  se6  also  ;  having 
climbed  into  another  sapling  beside  Pomp.  The  kidnappers 
returned  to  the  spot  where  the  horses  had  been  tied,  examined 
the  ground  there  carefully,  and  even  penetrated  the  thicket 
where  the  fugitives  had  so  lately  been  concealed  ;  all  the  time 
breaking  the  stillness  of  the  woods  with  their  angiy  oaths. 
Then  suddenly,  leaving  the  led  horse  fastened  to  a  tree,  they 
separated,  and  galloped  off  in  different  directions ;  one  resum- 
ing the  search  in  the  quarter  of  the  woods  where  the  animal 
had  been  recovered,  while  the  other  disappeared  on  the 
turnpike. 

"All  right!"  laughed  Pomp,  slipping  down  from  the 
saphng.  '*  They  have  divided  their  forces  :  that  was  kind  in 
them  !  " 

"  Instead  of  two  against  one,  they  will  now  be  one  against 
two,  if  they  happen  to  meet  us  !  "  said  Fred. 

"But  they  are  armed,"  suggested  the  negi'o,  regarding 
with  admiration  the  bright,  brave  young  face  of  the  boy. 


A    CHANCE    FOR    A    SPECULATION.  101 

"So  are  we,"  replied  Fred.  "We  have  a  jack-knife 
between  us." 

Pomp  mused.  "  Perhaps  I  ought  to  have  used  the  knife 
when  I  had  Carter  in  my  power.  Then,  when  Bodson  re- 
turned, he  should  have  received  a  bullet  from  Carter's  pistol : 
that  would  have  finished  him.  But  I  hate  to  take  life,  — 
even  that  of  a  villain,  —  when  it  can  be  avoided,"  said  he, 
rubbing  his  galled  limbs. 

"It  is  better  as  it  is,"  said  Fred.  "  Our  stratagem  has 
worked  pretty  well,  so  far.    But  you  have  had  no  breakfast  ?  " 

"  No  matter :  I  only  wish  I  had  a  drink  of  water.  Will 
you  keep  watch  while  I  crawl  down  to  the  run  ?  " 

Fred  consented,  keeping  his  station  in  the  sapling.  Pomp 
crept  to  the  brook,  hollowed  a  little  place  in  the  stones 
and  gravel,  and  waited  for  the  water  in  it  to  settle.  Then, 
having  drank,  he  bathed  his  chafed  and  swollen  limbs. 

"  Whiit  a  blessing  is  water  !  "  said  he.  "  Now  I  feel  fresh 
again." 

"  Shall  we  stay  here  all  day  ?  "  said  Fred,  as  Pomp  crept 
back  into  the  bushes.  *'  I  know  where  I  can  get  you  some- 
thing to  eat,  if  you  are  very  hungry;  "  and  he  related  his 
adventure  with  the  Crumletts. 

"  And  would  you  really  run  the  risk  of  going  back  there 

for  me  ?  "  said  Pomp.     "  Well,  we'll  see." 
9* 


102  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Hist !  there  is  somebody !  "  said  Fred,  perceivmg  a 
movement  in  the  direction  of  the  cross-road. 

"A  man?" 

"Yes,  on  foot." 

"More  than  one?" 

"  I  don't  know  :  I  can  see  only  one  yet.  There  he  comes, 
around  the  bushes  !  " 

"Take  care  !  "  said  Pomp.  "  You  will  be  in  sight  up 
there.     Drop  down  ;  but  don't  shake  the  tree." 

Fred  stopped  to  take  a  last  look,  and  presently  began  to 
laugh. 

"  It  is  Tildy's  husband  !  it  is  Mr.  Crumlett  himself !  " 

"  Good  !  "  said  Pomp.  "  Perhaps  we  can  make  him 
useful." 

"  He  is  looking  for  me,  I  believe,"  said  Fred,  dropping  to 
the  ground.     "  Shall  I  go  out  and  speak  to  him  ?  " 

After  some  hesitation,  the  cautious  Pomp  consente-l ;  and 
Fred,  creeping  out  on  the  side  near  the  brook,  went  around 
the  bushes,  and  met,  as  if  by  accident,  Mr.  Crumlett. 

"  Sho  I  "  said  Enos.  "  I  was  jest  looldn'  for  you  I  How 
about  that  spec'lation?  " 

"It's  progressing,"  replied  Fred  cheerfully.  "What's 
tlie  news?" 

"Had  an  all-fii-ed  excitin'  time  since  I  see  you!"  said 


A     CHANCE    FOR    A     SPECULATION.  103 

Enos,  wiping  the  sweat  from  his  neck.  "  They've  burnt  up 
EUsmer's  house,  and  young  Ellsmer  in  it !  But  he  paid  two 
of  Gruffley's  men  —  killed  one  and  wounded  t'other  —  'fore 
they  got  through  with  him." 

"  What  did  they  want  of  you?"  Fred  inquired,  horrified 
by  this  news. 

"  They  wanted  to  know  o^  me  if  I  had  seen  him ;  and 
they  driv  me  with  'em  till  they  got  pretty  well  convinced  that 
you,  that  they'd  seen  with  me,  wasn't  him ;  for  he  was  fir- 
ing at  'em  out  of  the  house,  you  see.  Then  they  let  me  go  : 
and  I  remembered  oui*  partin'  had  been  rather  sudden  ; 
and  thinkin',  if  there  was  a  chance  for  a  spec'lation,  I'd  like 
to   be  counted  in,  I  kind  o'   litered  alor.g,  hopin'   to  find 

je." 

"A  speculation  at  such  a  time  as  this,  Mr.  Cmmlett?" 
said  Fred,  making  Enos  sit  down  with  him  under  cover  of 
the  thicket.     "  You're  a  cool  man." 

*'  Wal,  I  be  some  cool,  considerin',"  replied  Enos.  '*  By 
jingoes,  I  never  knew  a  man  could  git  so  used  to  blood  and 
murder  as  I  have  these  tearin'  times,  till  I  don't  think 
scarcely  any  thing  of  'em  !  Besides,  I've  been  bled  so  aw- 
fully by  tbe  reb  —  the  confederates,"  —  Mr.  Crumlett  cor- 
rected himself,  looking  around  nervously, — -''that  I  must 
light  on  some  sort  of  spec'lation  to  help  myself,  or  I'm 
swamped." 


104  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Where  are  the  bushwhackers  now  ?  " 

"  Lucky  for  you  and  me,  they've  got  a  new  job  on  hand  : 
for  they  say  they're  goin'  to  overhaul  you ;  and,  when  they 
hain't  got  nothm'  else  for  idle  hands  to  do,  they've  a  mis'ble 
habit  o'  makin'  calls  on  me,  confound  'em  !  " 

''What's  the  job  now?" 

"  Ye  see,  jest  as  they  had  finished  bumin'  Ellsmer's 
house,  a  man  comes  ridin'  up  in  a  thunderin'  hurry,  and  tells 
the  captain  about  a  nigger  that  had  jest  got  away  from  him, 
and  was  escapin'  to  the  Union  lines.  It's  for  the  interest  of 
the  reb  —  the  confederates,  ye  know,  to  keep  all  the  niggers 
they  can  this  side  o'  the  split  in  the  country.  Besides,  the 
captain  knew  the  man  that  had  lost  the  nigger  :  so  he  called 
off  his  men,  and  sent  some  on  'em  ai'ound  by  the  turnpike, 
and  went  with  the  rest  himself  around  t'other  side  o'  the 
woods,  so  as  to  head  off  the  nigger  as  he  runs  North.  For 
he'll  nin  North,  of  course :  that's  the  way  niggers  take  now- 
days;  that's  the  way  mine  took."  And  Enos  groaned.  "A 
splendid  nigger  he  was  too  !     Oh  !  " 

Rapid  thoughts  flashed  through  Fred's  mind  as  Mr.  Crum- 
lett  talked. 

**  They  have  all  gone  around  the  woods?  " 

"Every  'tarnal  one  of  'cm.  There'll  be  no  chance  for  a 
nigger  runnin'   North;  but  if  he  was  only  fool  enough  to 


A     CHANCE    FOE    A    SPECULATION.  105 

move  South,  now,  he'd  be  a  wise  dog  !  For,  ye  see,  the  side 
o'  the  woods  here  towards  my  place  is  left  open  :  there  was  a 
man  stationed  there  at  fust ;  but  even  he  has  gone  on  the  nio-- 
ger  hunt.  After  they  surround  the  woods,  and  cut  the 
darky  off,  then  I  s'pose  they'll  beat  through  the  bushes  till 
they  find  him." 

Fred  rubbed  his  forehead,  scratched  his  head,  and  bit  a 
twig  to  pieces,  in  extraordinary  mental  excitement,  for  a  min- 
ute or  two  :  then,  seeming  to  feel  the  strong  will  of  the  sa- 
gacious negro  in  the  thicket  sustaining  and  impelling  him,  he 
spoke  boldly :  — 

"Mr.  Crumlett,  I'll  tell  ye  something  about  that  nigger. 
The  man  you  saw  go  for  the  bushwhackers  is  one  of  three 
who  stole  him  from  Nashville,  and  smuggled  him  through  the 
lines." 

"  Sho  !  "  said  Enos,  opening  his  eyes  in  astonishment. 

*'Yes,"  Fred  continued.  "He  may  have  been  an  es- 
caped slave;  but  he  never  belonged  to  them.  Probably  they 
never  lost  a  slave.  But  you  have,  Mr.  Crumlett ;  and  who 
knows  but  this  may  be  your  man  ?  " 

"  Yes  :  who  knows?  "  ejaculated  Enos,  growing  excited. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Crumlett,  the  only  speculation  I'm  interested 
in  is  this  nigger  !  " 

•'  Ye  don't  say  !  "  said  Enos. 


106  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  I  do,"  said  Fred.  *'  And,  now,  look  here.  If  jou  and 
I  can  do  something  handsome  by  him,  we've  as  good  a  right 
to  as  anybody,  haven't  we  ?  " 

*'  Yes  to  that,  de-ci-dedly  !  "  replied  Enos  with  sound  em- 
phasis. 

"  You'd  know  your  man,  of  course,  if  you  saw  him  ?  " 

"  I  guess!  Know  him  !  I'd  like  the  chance  !  "  and  Mr. 
Crumlett  laughed. 

"  Well,  see  if  this  is  he.  —  Pomp  !  "  called  Fred. 

And  Pomp  came  tearing  his  way  out  of  the  thicket  so 
suddenly,  and  with  such  a  commotion  of  the  boughs,  that 
Enos  sprang  to  his  feet  with  an  exclamation  of  fright. 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,  IVIr.  Crumlett.  This  is  the  boy  I'm 
speculating  on.     See  if  he  looks  like  yours." 

**  I  thought  the  very  ©Id  scratch  was  coming  !  "  said  Enos 
nervously :  "  he  took  me  so  suclden  in  the  rear  \  But  ain't 
he  a  noble  feller?" 

"Is  he  youi's?"  Fred  urged;  while  Pomp  sat  quietly 
where  Enos  had  sat  before,  and  waited  meekly  to  be 
scanned. 

"  I  wish  he  was  !  that  is  —  he  does  look  a  little  like  —  I 
don't  know.  Do  you  remember  me.  Bob  ?  '*  said  Enos,  try- 
ing hard  to  imagine  Pomp  his  property. 

"Don't  remember,  sar,"  replied  Pomp  indifferently. 


A    CHANCE    FOR    A    SPECULATION.  107 

''He  looks  terrible  like  him!  I  believe  —  I  guess  —  I 
swan  —  it's  his  brother,  if  Hain't  him! " 

*'  He  is  a  real  good  nigger,"  said  Fred,  patting  Pomp's 
shoulder  patronizingly.  ' '  He's  grateful  to  me  for  taking 
him  away  from  the  kidnappers,  and  will  do  any  thing  I  tell 
him  to ;  won't  you.  Pomp  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sar :  you's  been  right  good  to  me,  sar." 

"  Now  I'll  tell  you  what  we'll  do,  Mr.  Crumlett.  It  isn't 
at  all  probable  that  the  kidnappers  will  search  your  premises 
for  him.  So,  if  we  can  only  get  him  to  your  house,  we  might 
keep  him  there  till  we  have  a  chance  to  dispose  of  him ;  that 
is,  unless  he  concludes  to  stay  with  you.  In  which  case," 
said  Fred  confidentially  aside  to  Enos,  "you'll  manage  to 
satisfy  me  for  my  claim  without  much  trouble." 

"Oh  1  of  course,"  said  Enos,  all  the  avarice  of  his  nature 
aroused  by  the  prospect.  "But  how  to  git  him  to  my 
house  ?  If  we  should  be  ketched  at  it,  ye  know  !  Or  if 
them  fellers  should  find  him  there  afterwards  !  " 

"  If  they  should,"  said  Fred,  "  I  don't  believe  they  would 
know  him.  They  never  saw  him  till  last  night,  when  they 
knocked  him  down  in  the  dark,  and  then  tied  him  on  the 
horse  by  the  hght  of  a  lantern.  He  doesn't  look  to  me  now 
like  the  same  being  I  saw  an  hour  ago,  bound,  with  his  head 
hanging,  and  with  a  gag  in  his  mouth.     Just  give  him  some 


108  THE     THREE    SCOUTS. 

different  clothes,  clap  an  old  hat  on  his'^ead,  and  pass  him 
off  for  your  man  :  why  can't  you  ?  ' ' 

"  By  George,  I  can  !  But  will  he  do  it  ?  Say,  Bob,  will 
you  go  and  be  my  man?  " 

"  I  do  any  ting  sooner 'n  be  tied  on  to  dat  'ar  boss  agin," 
said  Pomp,  shaking  his  head  and  rubbing  his  ankles.  "  Too 
rough,  dat  wuz  I  " 

"I'll  try  it!  "  exclaimed  Enos.  "I'll  take  him  right  to 
my  house,  jest  as  if  he  was  my  nigger,  and  nobody's  busi- 
ness.    Jest  le'  me   see   if  the  coast  is  clear  fust.     I'll  w 

o 

ahead,  and  beckon  to  you  from  the  road  if  it's  all  right." 

This  arrangement  pleased  the  others ;  for  it  gave  them  an 
opportunity  to  confer  privately  together  for  a  few  minutes, 
and  form  their  plans.  This  done,  they  followed  Mr.  Crum- 
lett,  who  led  the  way  to  his  house.  He  reached  the  road, 
where  not  a  rebel  was  to  be  seen  ;  made  the  concerted  sisnal : 
and  laughed  with  delight  to  see  Pomp  approach  at  a  lazy 
and  slouching  pace  across  the  field,  with  a  load  of  sticks  in 
his  arras. 

"Why,  Enos!"  said  Matilda  ft-om  the  door,  "have  you 
come  home  ?  " 

"  I've  come  home,  Tildy,"  replied  Enos,  glancing  up  and 
down  the  road  :  there  was  a  smoke  in  the  direction  of  EUs- 
mer's  house ;  bnt  still  not  a  rebel,  not  a  neighbor,  was  in  sight. 


A     CHANCE    FOE    A     SPEC  ULATION.  109 

"  The  cutest  spec'lation  you  ever  heard  on  in  all  your  born 
days,  Tildy!" 

"  Why,  what  is  it  ?  Is  that  our  Bob  coming  home  again  ? 
No,  it  am't  Bob,  Enos  !  " 

"  Yes  it  is  Bob,  too  I  "  cried  the  hilarious  JMr.  Cnimletfc. 
"  Or  if  'tain't  exactly  Bob,  it's  his  brother,  and  as  Hke  him  as 
a  vi'lin  is  like  a  fiddle.  Say  nothing,  but  laugh,  Tildy  !  Git 
out  some  o'  Bob's  old  clo'es  for  him  to  put  on.  Quit  yer 
starin',  young  ones,  and  go  into  the  house  !  The  thunderin- 
est  spec'lation  !  "  chuckled  Enos,  as  Pomp  came  bringing  his 
armfol  of  sticks  to  the  door. 

10 


110  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


XI. 

THE  PEDDLER  EOT. 

RED  lino-ered  on  the  edo;e  of  the  woods  until  he 
had  witnessed  the  negro's  safe  arrival ;  then  fol- 
lowed him.  He  found  Pomp  ensconced  in  the 
Crumlett  kitchen,  with  Mr.  Crumlett  admiring  him,  Mrs. 
Crumlett  waiting  upon  him,  and  all  the  little  Cnimletts  star- 
ing at  him. 

"  A  good  breakfast !  a  good  breakfast,  ma !  "  Enos  was 
saying.  **By  jingoes,  he  deserves  it !  Some  o'  these  'ere 
doughnuts,"  — emptying  his  pockets,  —  "  and  a  shce  o'  that 
cheese,  and  a  bowl  o'  milk :  show  him  he's  among  friends. 
I'll  keep  a  lookout  from  the  door.  If  anybody  comes,"  — to 
Fred,  —  "  you  and  the  nigger  had  better  slip  out  of  sight." 

]\Ir.  Crumlett  walked  up  and  down  before  the  house,  his 
hands  deep  in  his  pockets,  and  his  mind  deep  in  the  contem- 
plation of  the  profits  to  arise  from  this  shrewd  operation.  All 
at  once  he  heard  a  voice  singing  in  the  distance;  and,  looking 


THE    PEDDLER    BOY.  Ill 

up  the  road,  he  saw,  just  coming  over  the  hill,  the  appearance 
of  a  man  on  horseback. 

**  No 'tain't,  neither !  "  he  said  to  himself,  scanning  the 
figure  closely.  "He's  a  muleback;  and  'tain't  a  man,  nei- 
ther,—  it's  a  boy.  Guess  it's  nobody  I  need  be  skittish 
about." 

The  boy  on  the  mule  drew  near,  singing  gayly  a  song  which 
Euos  did>not  understand.  He  seemed  perfectly  happy  and 
contented ;  and  you  would  have  said  his  mind  was  as  free 
from  care  as  the  blue  sky  above  was  from  clouds.  He  was  a 
droll-looking  object,  however,  mounted  on  the  most  ancient 
and  long-eared  of  mules,  which  it  seemed  impossible  for  him 
ever  to  urge  out  of  a  walk.  He  was  seated  on  a  tattered  old 
saddle,  with  ropes  for  stuTups,  into  which  his  feet  were  thrust 
to  his  ankles.  Behind  him  was  a  pair  of  saddle-bags,  as  an- 
tique as  the  saddle  itself.  He  carried  in  his  hand  a  short 
cudgel,  with  which  he  belabored  the  flanks  of  the  indifferent 
animal  from  time  to  time,  ceasing  his  singing  to  accompany 
the  blows  with  fitting  words. 

*'  It's  one  o'  them  pesky  Dutch  peddlers  !  "  said  Enos,  as 
the  boy  rode  up,  and  turned  upon  him  a  broad,  jovial  face, 
smiling  under  a  broad  hat-brim.  "  No ;  don't  want  to  trade 
none  to-day  :  you  can  travel  right  along,"  he  cried  forbid- 
dingly, well  aware,  that,  if  his  wife  should  see  the  peddler's 


112  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

goods,  sHe  would  find  something  among  them  which  the  family 
could  not  live  without  another  day. 

*'I  vas  not  asking  you  to  trade,"  said  the  boy  good-na- 
turedly. "  I  vas  going  to  a  petter  market  as  this.  But  my 
mule  vould  like  to  make  a  pargain  for  a  pucket  of  vater,  if 
you  please." 

"Well  is  low:  no  water  to  spare,"  replied  Enos  curtly. 
"You'd  better  whip  along." 

"Wip  along  I  vill,  then!"  said  the  boy,  as  good-hu- 
moredly  as  before.  And  he  began  to  ply  his  cudgel,  — 
thwack,  thwack,  thwack !  But  the  mule  would  not  stir. 
The  boy  stopped  beating  him,  and  giinned. 

"  He's  a  wery  obstinate  peast !  Ven  I  get  rested,  I  vill 
wip  him  some  more." 

"  It's  a  trick  to  stop  and  show  his  goods,"  said  Enos,  with 
increasing  alarm  lest  Matilda  should  spend  some  money  in 
traffic  with  the  peddler.  "  I'll  help  ye  along  !  "  and,  seizing 
a  heavy  piece  of  bush  from  the  bundle  Pomp  had  brought  to 
the  door,  he  ran  out  to  try  its  virtue  on  the  mule. 

"Thank  you,"  said  the  boy,  backing  the  animal  around, 
so  that  he  presented  his  heels  to  Mr.  Crumlett.  The  mule 
seemed  to  understand  the  trick,  and  to  favor  it.  "  Now 
wip  :  wip  so  hard  as  you  can.  If  you  succeed  to  make  him 
go,  I  vill  hire  you  to  'company  me  on  my  woyage,  and  make 
the  ship  to  sail." 


THE    PEDDLER    BOY.  113 

Enos  whipped ;  the  mule  kicked.  On  which  side  soever 
he  attacked,  there  the  vicious  mule's  heels  presented  them- 
selves, and  flew  back  to  meet  his  advances,  greatly  to  his 
discomfiture,  and  to  the  amusement  of  the  merry  youngster  in 
the  saddle,  who  laughed  until  he  seemed  in  imminent  danger 
of  tumbling  oflf. 

"I'll  fix  him ! "  and  the  enraged  Crumlett  ran  to  find  a  pole. 

Mrs.  Crumlett  was  already  standing  in  the  door,  with  her 
six  children,  wondering  at  the  altercation  between  her  hus- 
band and  the  mule.  Fred  and  Pomp  were  at  the  window. 
Fred  was  laughing  heartily ;  whilst  Pomp's  eyes  glistened 
with  something  more  serious  than  fun.  He  had  recognized 
the  peddler-boy;  and  he  knew  that  his  appearance  in  that 
place,  and  in  that  shape,  had  a  meaning  in  it,  beyond  what 
Enos  saw  in  the  stuffed  saddle-bags. 

The  moment,  therefore,  that  Enos  ran  for  the  pole.  Pomp 
seized  the  sink-pail,  half  filled  with  water,  and  hastened  to 
offer  it  to  the  mule,  with  the  customaiy  obsequiousness  of 
the  black  man  serving  a  white  master. 

The  mule  drank  complacently,  while  his  rider  started  in 
amazement. 

*'  Pomp  !  is  that  you?  " 

The  negro  responded  with  a  significant  look.  ''I'll  go 
and  fetch  a  little  more  water,  —  a  little  more  water,  sar,"  he 

10* 


114  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

repeated,  as  Enos  came  rushing  to  the  spot,  flourishing  a 
bean-pole. 

''  What  are  ye  'bout?  "  shouted  Enos. 

*'  Watering  de  ge'man's  mule-brute,  sar,"  said  Pomp. 

••'  You  go  into  the  house,  and  I'll  tend  to  the  ge'man,  and 
his  mule  too  I  "  said  Mr.  Crumlett  wrathfully. 

Pomp  obeyed,  but  with  a  sullen  look,  which  reminded 
EnOs  that  he  was  not  absolute  master  here,  and  that  the  suc- 
cess of  his  speculation  depended  upon  the  good-will  and  con- 
sent of  the  negro  himself.  Mr.  Cmmlett,  therefore,  followed 
him  to  the  door,  saying  to  him  in  a  modified  tone,  — 

"Ye  must  keep  out  of  sight,  ye  know;  for  your  own 
good,  ye  understand." 

Pomp,  who  understood  vastly  better  than  Enos  di-eamed, 
entered  the  house,  where  he  found  hunself  alone  with  Fred  ; 
Mrs.  Crumlett  having  cone  out  with  the  children,  baby  and 
all,  to  gaze  at  the  ped-l:  r. 

"  I  must  speak  with  that  boy  alone,"  said  Pomp.  "  How 
can  we  manage  it?  " 

*'  See,  he  understands  what  you  want ! "  said  Fred.  "  He 
is  dismounting,  in  spite  of  Crumlett.  He  will  come  in,  if 
ho  can  get  in." 

"  But  the  whole  tribe  will  come  in  with  him  !  "  Pomp 
glanced  rapidly  around  the  room  :  it  was  certainly  no  place 


THE    PEDDLER    BOY.  115 

for  a  private  conference  with  the  peddler-boy.  In  a  chair, 
were  some  clothes  which  Mrs.  Crumlett  had  just  brought  for 
the  black  to  put  on  in  place  of  those  he  wore.  He  caught 
them  up,  and  once  more  stai-ted  to  leave  the  house. 

"  Where  ye  goin'  ?  "  demanded  Enos. 

"  To  de  barn,  massa,"  replied  Pomp:  "git  into  dis  yer 
new  rig." 

Enos  did  not  like  to  trust  him  out  of  his  sight.  Neither 
was  he  willing  to  leave  Matilda  an  instant  alone  with  the 
peddler.  He  compromised  the  difficulty  by  requesting  Fred 
to  go  with  the  negro,  and  keep  an  eye  on  him ;  himself  re- 
maining to  prevent  traffic  between  the  peddler  and  Mrs. 
Crumlett. 

"  There  ain't  nothin'  ye  want,  ma:  so  don't  look  at  his 
things,  but  go  along  into  the  house,  and  take  fifty  or  sixty  of 
these  everlastin'  young  ones  with  ye." 

"  I  haven't  traded  with  a  peddler  for  six  months/'  com- 
plained Mrs.   Crumlett,  casting  hungry  eyes  at  the  saddle- 


"  And  ye  won't  for  six  months  to  come,  I  tell  ye  now  !  " 
her  husband  declared.  "  High  as  every  thing  is,  you're 
crazy  to  think  of  tradin'.  Come,  kitchen's  the  place  for 
you  :  go,  and  look  after  yer  work." 

"I  guess  I  look  after  my  work  well  enough,  without 
bein'  told  by  you  !  "  retorted  Matilda. 


116  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

**  Ye  don't:  ye  neglect  it  half  the  time!  You're  a  Fos- 
dick;  and  the  Fosdicks  always  was  a  shif'less  set." 

**  What  did  ye  marry  one  of  'em  for,  then?  "  cried  Mrs. 
Crumlett  sharply.  "  Seems  to  me  you  wasn't  very  bright, 
if  we  was  sich  a  very  shif'less  set !  " 

"  Wal,  I  was  a  fool  once  in  my  Hfe,  — I  own  up  to  that ! 
I  thought,  git  ye  away  from  the  rest  on  'em,  I  might 
mebby  make  suthin'  of  ye :  but  ye  can't  make  a  silk  puss 
out  of  a  sow's  ear  ;  I've  found  that  out !  " 

"  Yery  well :  if  you're  so  sick  of  yer  bargain,  I  can  go 
back  to  the  Fosdicks,  that  you've  such  a  mean  spite  against. 
If  we  are  such  a  shiftless  set  as  you  call  us,  I'm  sure  I 
always  lived  a  much  sight  easier  hfe  at  home  than  I  ever 
have  since  the  day  I  was  silly  enough  to  make  myself  a  slave 
to  you." 

"A  slave  to  me!"  roared  Enos,  exasperated.  "By 
Jimmy  Neddy  !  if  that  ain't  the  coolest  impudence,  after  I've 
supported  ye  in  yer  laziness  all  these  years  !  " 

"  Yery  well,"  repeated  Mrs.  Crumlett  with  intensified 
^^corn  and  spite;  "I  sha'n't  trouble  you  to  support  me  in 
my  laziness  any  longer !  " 

"Do  as  ye  please,  do  as'ye  please  !  "  cried  Enos.  **  I'm 
wiUm'.  I've  got  tired  of  your  threats  and  complaints  ;  and 
now,  if  ye  want  to  quit,  —  why,  quit.     Ye  ain't  my  slave  ;  T 


THE    PEDDLER    BOY.  117 

sba'n't  hender  ye  :  you're  yer  own  master,  and  can  do  what 
ye  like." 

"  Very  well !  that's  all  I  ask.  Glad  you  are  so  ready  to 
give  mo  up  !  Thank  Providence,  I've  got  a  little  money  of 
my  own." 

*' Yes,  ye  have;  a  little  that  ye  got  sellin'  eggs  that  my 
hens  laid,  and  butter  from  milk  my  cows  give.  That's  the 
kind  o'  slave  you've  been  to  me  I  But,  if  ye  want  to  make 
a  journey,  you  can  take  the  money ;  and,  if  there  ain't  enouo^h, 
guess  mebby  I  can  'commodate  ye  with  a  little  besides  :  any 
thing  to  'commodate  !  "     And  Enos  laughed  maliciously. 

"  But  I  shall  want  some  things  first  to  get  ready  for  the 
journey:  so  I'm  going  to  trade  with  this  peddler,"  said 
IMrs.  Crumlett  triumphantly.  "  Of  course,  since  you  give  up 
all  claim  to  me,  I  can  do  as  I'm  a  mind  to." 

"  No,  ye  can't ;  not  on  my  premises  !  "  Enos  turned  to 
look  after  the  peddler.  *'  Where  you  goin'  with  that 
beast?" 

The  lad,  having  deliberately  finished  watering  his  mule 
during  this  altercation,  bringing  fresh  water  from  the  weU  for 
the  purpose,  was  now  leadmg  him  with  equal  deliberation  to- 
wards the  barn,  whither  Pomp  had  gone  before  him. 

"  I  vas  going  to  inwite  hun  to  wisit  your  staple,"  said  be, 
stopping  reluctantly,  and  only  upon  compulsion. 


118  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  I'll  inwite  this  rock  to  wisit  your  head  I  "  shouted  Euos, 
mocking  him.     "  Come  back  here  !     Quit  my  premises  !  " 

*'  If  he  does,"  said  Matilda,  "  I  can  leave  the  premises  to 
trade  with  him,  I  guess  !  " 

"  If  you  do,  you  don't  set  foot  inside  my  door  agin  !  Re- 
member that !  " 

"  Oh,  I'll  remember  :  no  danger  !  I'm  sure  I  ain't  going 
to  degrade  myself  by  living  with  a  man  that's  got  tired  of 
me,  now  I've  worn  myself  out  in  his  service.  I'll  just  take 
time  to  pick  up  my  things  a  little :  then  I'll  go ;  for  I  may  as 
well  start  first  as  last.  — AVhat  have  you  got "  (to  the  peddler) 
"  that'll  be  useful  to  a  poor  unfortunate  woman  that's  driven 
out  of  her  house  and  home  by  her  own  husband  and  the  fa- 
ther of  her  children,  —  six  in  all,  and  a  baby  only  just 
weaned,  and  two  pair  of  twins?  " 

"  Pins,  needles,  lace,"  said  the  peddler,  drawing  his  sad- 
dle-bags from  the  mule's  back;  "  and  some  wery  goot  fine- 
tooth  combs." 

"Oh,  dear!  I  should  like  some  lace  so  much!  But  I 
suppose  I  can't  afford  it :  other  women  can ;  for  they  have 
husbands  different  from  mine.  What's  the  price  of  your 
combs?" 

"I  vill  show  you.  This  is  the  article;  audit  is  vorth 
vun  dollar  apiece,  green-backs,  madam." 


THE    PEDDLER    BOY.  119 

"  One  dollar  !  "  ejaculated  Enos,  like  a  man  homfied  by 
some  fearful  announcement.  "  Jest  sicli  a  comb  as  we  used 
to  git  for  a  shilling." 

"  But  jou  will  observe,  things  is  wery  high,"  said  the  boy. 
"  These  is  all  contraband  goots;  has  to  be  smuggled  through 
the  lines.  I  smuggled  'em  myself;  and  there  is  risks.  I  take 
my  load  to  Shelbywille,  and  I  sell  out  for  some  profits :  I 
vas  not  vishing  to  trade  before  I  got  to  Shelbywille.  You 
see," — running  his  finger-nail  along  the  ringing  teeth  of 
the  comb,  —  "  it  is  prime  ivory,  and  vondei-W  strong  !  " 

"  Iv'ry  ?  "  sneered  Enos.  "  It's  no  more  iv'ry  than  my 
shin-bone  !     So  take  your  traps  away." 

*'  Iv'ry  or  no  iv'ry,"  said  IVIrs.  Crumlett,  ''we  need  just 
such  a  comb  for  the  children's  heads." 

"  What  have  you  to  do  with  the  childi-en's  heads  ?  "  cried 
Enos.  **  Thought  you  was  goin'  to  leave  'em  ever  so 
fast ! " 

"  I  can't  help  feeling  a  mother's  interest,  if  I  am  driven 
away  from 'em,"  replied  Mrs.  Crumlett.  "I  hain't  had 
any  thing  for  then-  heads  but  a  broken  piece  of  comb  an  inch 
long  since  we  came  to  Tennessee ;  and  I  shouldn't  have  had 
that,  if  I  didn't  look  closer  after  their  welfare  than  ever  their 
father  did  or  will !  " 

"Thunder  and  jingoes!"    snarled  Enos,  "  if  you  don't 


120  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

beat  all  the  women  for  makin'  flings  !  Don't  I  look  after 
their  welfare  ?  You'll  see  !  Guess  their  heads  '11  be  took  as 
good  care  on,  and  their  faces  kep'  as  clean,  after  you're  gone, 
as  they  ever  have  been." 

**Well,"  said  Mrs.  Crumlett,  changing  her  tactics,  and 
trying  the  pathetic  mood,  *'  I  think  I'll  buy  one  of  these 
combs,  to  make  a  present  on't  to  the  children,  for  the  dear 
things  to  remember  me  by  after  I'm  gone.  Whenever  they 
comb  their  heads,  they'll  think  of  me,  the  darlings  !  Won't 
you,  Eny,  wonit  you,  'Tildy,  think  of  your  poor,  unhappy 
mother,  turned  out  of  doors  just  as  you  was  gi'owing  up  to  be 
some  comfort  to  her,  after  all  her  trials  and  troubles,  and  her 
devotion,  and  her — boo-hoo-oo  !  " 

At  this  critical  juncture,  Fred  made  his  appearance  from 
the  bam. 

"  Look  here,  peddler :  have  you  got  any  sort  of  a  plaster 
that  will  be  good  for  a  negro's  bruised  ankles  ?  " 

*'  I  shouldn't  be  wery  much  surpnsed  if  I  could  do  'em 
some  goot.     But  sticking-plasters  is  high." 

"  No  matter  :  I'll  pay  for  them.     Come  with  me." 

Fred  led  the  way ;  and  the  boy  followed  him  to  the  bara, 
carrying  his  saddle-bags  with  him.  Mr.  Crumlett  was  but 
too  glad  of  this  diversion,  which  broke  off  the  trade  for  the 
comb  :  so  that,  this  time,  he  raised  no  objection  to  the  ped- 


THE    PEDDLER    BOY.  121 

dler's  visiting  the  stable.  In  case  he  had  shown  an  inclina- 
tion to  accompany  him,  and  look  into  the  affair  of  the  stick- 
ing-plasters, it  was  Fred's  intention  to  stop  him  on  the  way, 
and  propose  some  new  speculation,  whilst  Pomp  and  the  ped- 
dler would  take  that  opportunity  to  confer  together.  But, 
just  then,  Mrs.  Crumlett  started  to  go  into  the  house,  with 
the  air  of  one  driven  wild  with  the  desperation  of  grief;  and 

Enos,  fearful  of  consequences,  hastened  to  overtake  her. 
11 


122  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


xn. 

CARL'S   ADVENTURE. 

Y,  Pomp  !  "  exclaimed  the  boy  on  entering  the 
bam,  "  how  ever  did  you  come  here  ?  " 

"Carl!  how  did  you  come?"  said  Pomp, 
grasping  his  hand.  ' '  I  was  kidnapped  and  smuggled ;  but 
it  seems  you  have  turned  smuggler  yourself?  " 

**  Yes,  wery  much  so,"  said  Carl  with  a  meny  wink  and 
twinkle.  "  I  vill  tell  you  how.  I  vent  to  find  my  friend 
Yoseph,  you  know.  He  vas  to  show  me  how  I  could  do  so 
much  petter  making  money  as  I  vas  doing  in  the  serwice.  So 
he  says,  *  You  take  some  goots  I  shall  let  you  have,  and  go 
down  to  Shelbywille,  and  I  vill  give  you  a  letter  for  intro- 
duction to  my  broder  there  ;  and  he  shall  help  you  to  sdl 
your  goots,  and  get  you  passes  to  come  pack.'  And  then 
he  says  to  me,  '  There  vill  pe  some  letters  from  Nashwille  to 
confederates  in  Shelbywille  ;  vich  if  you  take  'em  to  my 
proder,  he  vill  get  much  money  for  'em : '  for  he  says,  '  I 
have  smuggled  letters  and  news  many  times  that  vay,  and  it 


CARL'S    ADVENTURE.  123 

is  wery  goot  piziness  for  profits.'  And  I  says  to  him,  '  Some 
goot  piziness  for  profits  is  vat  I  vant ;  and  I  vill  see  vat  I 
vill  do.  How  sball  I  get  my  goots  through  the  lines  ? ' 
And  he  says,  '  That  is  easy  :  ve  have  some  pretty  tricks  for 
that.'  —  '  Tell  me  some  pretty  tricks,'  I  says.  And  then  he 
tells  me,  '  The  secesh  farmers  help  us ;  and  some  help  us 
that  is  not  secesh.  They  does  it  for  profits,'  he  says  ;  '  for 
men  vill  do  any  thing  for  profits,  you  know.'  And  I  says, 
'  I  know.'  And  he  says,  *  Ye  have  vun  vagon,  made  vith  a 
false  bottom ;  and  that's  vat  the  guard  sees  ven  they  stop  it  to 
look  if  any  thing  contraband  is  in.  But  unter  that  bottom's 
another^  and  two  inches  between ;  and  in  them  two  inches 
ve  stow  much  goots.  So,  ven  our  friends  is  in  town,  vun 
leaves  his  vagon,  and  takes  ours  that  has  the  goots  in,  and 
carries  it  tlu'ough  the  lines  vith  his  pass  to  his  house.  Then 
the  goots  is  took  out,  and  hid  till  ve  are  ready  to  send  'em  on 
to  our  friends  South,  vich  is  suffering  for  'em,  you  unter- 
stan'. '  And  I  says,  '  I  unterstan' :  it  is  a  wery  pretty  trick. 
And  he  says,  '  Yun  day,  a  load  of  manure  goes  through  the 
lines  :  the  guard  does  not  stop  thut ;  for  the  farmer  has  a  pass 
to  draw  out  vat  he  vants  for  his  fann.  But,  you  see,  unter 
that  load  is  boxes  of  fine  stuffs  for  the  rebs,  vich  goes  from 
us,  and  prings  pack  much  money.  Is  that  a  pretty  trick  ?  ' 
And  I  says,  '  Wery  ! '    And  he  says,  '  Ye  have  goots  vaiting 


124  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

outside  the  lines,  vich  you  shall  take^  and  go  make  profits  for 
you  and  for  us  in  Dixie,  ^d  pring  the  letters  to  my  broder.' 
And  I  says,  '  All  that's  wery  goot  to  talk  ;  but  how  do  I 
get  through  the  lines?  '  —  '  That  is  easy  as  any  thing,'  he 
says.  *  A  friend  of  ours  is  clerk  in  the  provost-marshal's 
office,  and  he  steals  plank-passes  for  us  ;  and  ve  writes  in  'em 
names  and  descriptions  as  ve  pleases.'  — '  So  that  is  another 
■wery  pretty  trick,'  I  says.  And  then  all  vas  agi-eed ;  but  I 
must  pay  him  some  money,  so  he  vill  not  loose  if  I  forget  to 
come  pack  to  him  after  I  have  made  some  profits.  So  I  says, 
*  I  have  a  friend  vill  let  me  have  money ;  '  and  I  go  to  find 
my  friend.  By  mishtake,  I  go  pack  to  the  office,  vere  I  found 
you,  Pomp ;  and  I  see  the  colonel,  and  I  tell  him  the  pretty 
tricks.  And  he  takes  down  all  I  tell  him  ;  and  joy  and  py 
he  says,  *  How  would  you  like  to,  go  and  smuggle  goots  for 
your  friend  Yoseph?  You  shall  go,'  he  says,  '  and  find  out 
all  about  his  agents  that  smuggle  for  him,  and  pring  pack 
pesides  much  waluable  information  of  the  rebel  forces  and 
fortifications.'  And  I  says,  '  Vat  you  say  I  vill  try.'  And 
that  is  the  reason,"  added  Carl,  "  that  I  am  turned  smug- 
gler." 

To  this  story  both  Pomp  and  Fred  listened  with  deep  in- 
terest ;  and,  in  return,  Pomp  related  his  adventui-e. 

"  I  hope  you  will  be  luckier  than  I  have  been,  Carl.  You 
have  undertaken  a  dangerous  business." 


CARL'S    ADVENTURE.  125 

"  If  it  vas  not  some  clanger,  it  vould  not  be  fun,"  replied 
Carl. 

"But  how  happens  it  that  you  are  on  this  cross-road  ?  " 

"  Pecause.  I  come  out  on  the  ^luifreesborough  pike  ;  for 
the  goots  vas  carried  out  that  yay.  But  I  shall  not  go  to  ^lur- 
freesborough  till  after  I  go  to  Shelbywille,  and  see  Yoseph's 
broder,  who  vill  give  me  passes  to  go  through  Murfreesborough 
ven  I  come  pack.  So  I  cross  to  go  to  the  Nolenswille  pike. 
The  farmer  that  smuggles  the  goots  let  me  have  the  mule  at 
a  pargain  :  only  seven  toUars  for  that  vonderful  peast," 
laughed  Carl. 

' '  And  how  about  the  letters  you  were  to  take  out  to  the 
rebs?"  asked  Pomp. 

"  The  colonel  could  think  of  pretty  tricks  too  !  "  Carl 
answered.  *'  He  looks  into  all  the  letters  Yoseph  gives  me, 
and  gives  me  pack  some  vich  he  says  vill  do  no  hurt  for  the 
rebs  to  see.  So  here  I  have  'em  unter  the  lining  of  my 
west ;  "  and  Carl  tapped  his  bosom. 

At  that  moment,  Mrs.  Crumlett,  with  bonnet  and  shawl 
on,  approached  the  barn  in  violent  haste,  followed  by  Enos, 
endeavoring  to  pacify  her. 

"Come,  come,   ma!     Ye  ain't  in  earnest:  ye  know  ye 

ain't  !  " 

"  I'll  show  ye  whether  I'm  in  earnest  or  not,  Mr.   Crum- 
11* 


126  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

lett.  I  sha'n't  wait  to  be  told  again  that  you  want  to  get 
rid  of  me.  But  I  must  see  the  peddler  first,  and  have  that 
comb  for  the  children.  The  Fosdicks  always  knew  what 
was  due  to  children's  heads,  if  they  be  such  a  shif 'less 
set!" 

"I  didn't  mean  you  when  I  said  that,  Tildy.  You  ain' 
exactly  like  the  rest  of  'em,  — I  always  stuck  to  that." 

*'  Yes,  I  am  :  don't  take  back  any  thing  you've  said  !  I'm 
a  Fosdick ;  and,  of  course,  can't  pretend  to  be  as  smart  as 
the  Crumletts.  The  Crumletts  are  aristocratic,  everybody 
knows!" — spoken  with  withering  emphasis.  "Nobody 
ever  heard  of  a  Grumlett  doing  a  mean  thing  :  oh,  no  I  " 

"  Gosh  all  hemlock !  "  broke  forth  Enos,  wiithing  and 
smarting  under  the  sarcasms :  "  won't  ye  never  stop  twittin' 
a  feller?" 

"  You  never  twit !  "  said  Matilda  with  a  scornful  toss, 
still  pushing  towards  the  barn.  "Where's  that  peddler? 
I've  got  the  dollar  all  ready  to  buy  the  comb." 

"  He  is  attending  to  the  negro,"  said  Fred,  stopping  her 
at  the  door.  "  It  will  hai-dly  be  proper  for  you  to  go  in  just 
now,  ma'am." 

"  Oh  !  if  it  wouldn't  be  proper,  I  can  wait  a  minute.  The 
Fosdicks  know  what  belongs  to  propriety,  if  they  be  so  very, 
very  shiftless  !  "  — with  a  simpering,  satirical  glance  at  Enos. 


CARL'S    ADVENTURE.  127 

**  Come,  ye  ain't  going  to  spend  that  dollar  now,  I  tell 
ye  !  "  said  Mr.  Crumlett.  "  Come,  come,  Tildy,"  he  added 
coaxingly,  "  stay  with  the  young  ones  yourself:  that'll  be 
a  better  present  than  a  cartload  of  combs." 

"  Oh  !  how  very  flattering  you  do  speak,  sir  !  and  I'm  sure 
I'm  very  much  obliged  to  you  !  "  Mrs.  Crumlett  continued. 
"  But  it  seems  it's  the  dollar  you  care  most  about,  and  not 
me  :  you'd  rather  I'd  stay  than  spend  that !  You  sing  a 
dijSerent  tune  from  what  you  did  a  little  while  ago.  Then 
you  was  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice  to  get  rid  of  me  :  it  was 
*  any  thing  to  accommodate,^  then  !  " 

"  Wal,  you  provoked  me.  You  musn't  take  to  heart  what 
a  fellow  says  in  the  heat  of  passion,  Tildy." 

"  Oh  !  then  you  do  get  provoked  sometimes,  do  you  ?  You 
own  up  that  you  say  some  things  in  the  heat  of  passion  ? 
Glad  to  hear  it,  JMr.  Crumlett  I  I  thought  you  had  such  a 
forbearing  temper !  " 

"  Wal,  I  gene'lly  always  have.  But  a  man  can't  stand 
every  thing  ! " 

"  Oh,  no,  indeed  !  but  a  woman  can  !  A  woman's  expecied 
to  put  up  with  every  thing,  no  matter  how  bad  her  husband 
treats  her,  and  be  so  meek  and  forgiving  through  it  all,  up  to 
the  very  minute  when  she's  told  she  ain't  wanted  any  longer 
(a   pathetic  snufF)  ;    and   then   turned   out-doors    (another 


128  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

snuff),  separated  from  her  children  (a  sob),  and  no  matter 
what  becomes  of  her  ;  for  that's  the  way  it  is  I  "  And  Mrs. 
Cnimlett  resorted  again  to  tears. 

"  Come,  Tildy  !  come  !  "  said  Enos  softly.  Then,  with 
sudden  spirit,  "  Don't  wipe  your  eyes  with  that  dollar-bill, 
any  how  I     Don't  you  know  no  better'n  that?  " 

"  Oh,  well :  I  forgot !  If  a  dollar-bill  is  of  so  much  more 
importance  than  my  feelings,  I  must  look  out !  I'll  spend  it 
before  I  spoil  it.  —  Do  tell  that  peddler  to  come  out,  can't 
you?"  said  Mrs.  Crumlett,  with  difficulty  rising  above  the 
sea  of  affliction  in  which  she  had  sunk,  but  still  heaving  on 
its  waves. 

"  Wal,  spend  it  then,  and  be  daraed  I  "  said  Enos,  out  of 
patience.  "  If  you  will  be  so  thundeiin' obstinate  and  ex- 
travagant, go  ahead  !  I've  said  my  say.  A  dollar  for  a 
comb  !  I  guess  that'll  be  sufficient  grounds  for  a  divorce,  if 
notb'ng  else.  Children,  look  at  youi'  mother  !  payin'  a  dollar 
—  a  dollar  —  for  a  comb !  " 

Carl  had  now  come  out  of  the  bam,  and  was  ready  for  a 
trade.  But  Mrs.  Crumlett,  who  had  appeared  so  violently 
determined  to  make  the  purchase  as  long  as  she  was\opposed, 
beo^an  to  recede  from  the  stronoj  stand  she  had  taken,  the 
moment  that  opposition  was  withdrawn. 

"  Is  that  the  comb  you  showed  me  before  ?  " 


CARL'S    ADVENTURE.  129 

"  The  wery  identical  comb,"  said  Carl. 

''  No,  I'm  sm^e  it  ain't !  "  said  Mrs.  Crumlett.  "  It  ain't 
near  so  good  a  one  as  that  was,  —  not  near  !  Let  me  see  some 
more." 

"  Take  your  pick,  madam,"  said  Carl. 

*'  Well,"  said  Matilda  discontentedly,  after  examining  the 
lot,  "  I  don't  see  any  quite  as  good  as  that  fust  one.  On 
the  whole,  I  guess  I  won't  buy  any,  my  husband  is  so  dread- 
ful set  against  it." 

"  No,  I  ain't,  neither  I  I  say,  Go  ahead  !  Why  don't  ye 
spend  yer  dollar  ?     Never  say  I  bender  ye  !  " 

"  No,  I  think  I  won't  trade  to-day,"  said  Matilda,  who,  left 
free  to  assume  the  responsibility,  could  not  now  be  driven 
even  by  her  husband's  taunts  to  make  the  extravagant  pur- 
chase. "  I  never  can  think  of  buying  any  little  thing  of  a 
peddler,  without  making  trouble  in  the  family  :  so  I  learn  to 
sacrifice  my  own  wishes  and  inclinations,  just  for  peace." 

Enos  hardly  knew  whether  to  be  nettled  or  pleased  by  this 
speech.  However,  the  dollar  was  saved ;  and  that  was  a  solid 
satisfaction.  Still  he  was  not  at  ease  in  his  mind ;  for,  the 
moment  Matilda  gave  up  buying  the  comb,  he  began  to  feel 
that  it  was  really  needed  in  the  family,  and  that  he  might 
regret  his  opposition  to  its  purchase,  especially  if  combs 
should  be  higher  in  a  month  or  two,  as  Carl  had  taken  occa- 


130  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

sion  to  suggest.  Besides,  Enos  may  have  foreseen  that  he 
would  probably  never  hear  the  last  of  the  affak  from  Matilda, 
unless  he  secured  the  comb.  "  That  will  shut  her  head,  as 
well  as  comb  it,"  he  said  to  himself.  And,  in  his  turn,  he 
began  to  examine  the  combs. 

"Don't  need  one,  as  I  see,"  he  muttered;  "git  along 
with  the  broken  one  that's  in  the  house  jest  as  well:  but 
mother'U  be  everlastin'ly  dissatisfied,  I  s'pose,  if  I  don't 
make  some  sort  of  a  dicker  for't." 

"  No,  I  sha'n't !  Don't  buy  it  to  please  me,  I  beg  of 
you  !  "     And  Matilda  turned  away. 

"  You  are  so  terrible  set  on  havin'  a  comb  !  Look  here, 
peddler !  "  and  Enos  whispered  to  Carl. 

"I  wouldn't  buy  it,  I  guess,  Enos,"  said  Mrs.  Crumlett, 
quite  seriously  this  time.  "  Come,  we  don't  want  any  thing 
to-day.  Well,"  —  as  Enos  continued  to  talk  aside  with 
C^d,  —  "if  you  do  buy  it,  remember  that  it  isn't  to  please 
me  ;  for  I  do  think  a  dollar  is  twice  what  the  miserable  thing 
is  worth  !  "  and  she  swept  abruptly  into  the  house. 

Enos  followed  presently,  and  smilingly  presented  her  with 
a  comb.     She  looked  at  it  resentfully,  until  ho  said,  — 

"  There,  Tildy  :  that's  to  please  you  !  Don't  say  a  word : 
I  got  it  cheap,  —  a  bargain,  Tildy  !  " 

"  What !  didn't  you  give  a  dollar  for  it?  " 


CARL'S    ADVENTURE.  131 

'^>  A  dollar  !     S'pose  I'd  be  sich  a  dunce  ?  " 

"  I  hope  not !  "  said  Mrs.  Crumlett. 

*'  Not  I,  I  vum  !  I'm  jest  goin'  to  give  his  mule  a  little 
nibble  o'  corn,  and  liim  a  bowl  o'  bread  and  milk ;  and  he's 
to  give  me  twenty-five  cents  to  boot !     Wasn't  I  cute  ?  " 

"  Why,  Enos  !  And  it's  a  real  good  comb,  after  all !  " 
said  Matilda. 

Thus  the  difficulty  was  settled  ;  for,  singularly  enough,  not 
another  word  was  said,  by  either,  of  the  proposed  separation, 
^latilda  had  already  quietly  laid  aside  her  shawl  and  bon- 
net ;  and  now  she  set  cheerfully  about  getting  Carl's  dinner. 


132  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


XIIL 

EN  OS  FALLS  INTO    TEMPTATION. 

ARL  had  seen  his  mule  fed,  and  partaken  of 
,.  _  ,^  Mrs.  Crumlett's  humble  fare,  and  was  setthng 

^-i^^^  "  with  Enos,  senior ;  while  Enos,  junior,  was  lead- 
ing the  mule  to  the  door.  Fred  was  at  table,  fortifying  his 
stomach  also  against  emergencies  ;  when  suddenly  Mr.  Crum- 
lett  discovered  a  movement  in  the  woods. 

"They're  after  the  nigger!"  he  exclaimed,  di-awing  an 
anxious  breath. 

In  fact,  the  kidnappers  and  their  rebel  allies  had  by  this 
time  scoured  the  woods  pretty  thoroughly,  and  made  their  ap- 
pearance on  the  southern  side.  They  had  not  succeeded  in 
their  seai'ch,  and  the  guerillas  were  inclined  to  give  it  up. 
Four  or  five  of  Gruffley's  men  came  galloping  across  the  field 
towards  Mr.  Crumlett's  house.  The  captain  was  at  their 
head.  Enos  turned  pale ;  feeling  that  a  critical  moment  for 
his  speculation,  and  also  for  his  fortunes  generally,  had  ar- 
rived. 


EXOS    FALLS    INTO     TEMPTATION.  133 

"Mr.  Crumlett,"  said  the  captain,  "you  profess  to  be  a 
good  patriot." 

"Yes  —  patriot  —  to  the  back-bone!"  said  Enos  in  an 
agitated  voice. 

"  And  you've  done  a  good  deal,  you  say,  for  the  Confeder- 
ate cause." 

"  Wal,  I  have  that !  "  said  Enos  with  emotion. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  and  to  give  you  an  opportunity  of 
doing  a  trifle  more.  This  foolish  nigger  job  has  delayed  us, 
and  we  are  unfortunately  obliged  to  call  upon  you  for  forage." 

"  Forage  !  "  articulated  Enos. 

"For  fifteen  horses,"  added  the  captain  cheerfully. 

"  Fifteen  —  horses  !  "  gasped  Mr.  Crumlett. 

"  And  a  dinner,"  continued  the  caj)tain,  "  for  fifteen 
men." 

"Dinner! — fifteen!       Goodness  gracious,   captain!    we 

couldn't  scare  up  a  dinner  for  fif fifteen  !  to  save  our 

souls  !  Should  be  tickled  to  death  to  obleege  ye,  and  do 
suthin'  for  the  cause ;  but  we  hain't  a  thing  in  the  house  fit 
for  you  and  your  men  to  eat." 

"Oh!  we're  not  particular.  A  few  slices  of  that  bacon 
hanging  in  your  wood-shed,  and  three  or  four  dozen  of  those 
eggs  packed  in  bran  in  your  cellar,  will  do  very  well  for  hun- 
gry men.  In  half  an  hour,  Mr.  Crumlett.  Meanwhile, 
sergeant,  see  about  the  forage." 

12 


134  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

The  captain,  dismounting,  adjusted  liis  sabre,  felt  the  pis- 
tols in  his  belt,  and  glanced  at  the  pair  that  ornamented  his 
boot-tops  ;  then  stood  with  folded  arms,  as  picturesque  a  ban- 
dit as  any  that  ever  flouiished  in  a  novel.  His  eyes,  looking 
out  from  between  his  slouched  hat  and  his  immense  beard, 
fell  on  Carl. 

"  Who  is  this  fellow  ?  the  boy  I  saw  with  you  this  morn- 
mg?" 

Enos,  whose  mind  dwelt  upon  the  appalling  ravages  that 
must  necessaiily  be  made  by  fifteen  men  and  their  beasts,  did 
not  heed  the  question. 

"  I  am  domg  a  little  pizinessfor  profits,"  said  Carl. 

"  No  doubt !  "  said  Captain  Gruffley.  "  You  rascals  care 
mighty  little  for  our  cause,  but  every  thing  for  youi*  own 
profits." 

"Yes,  captain,"  said  Carl  with  a  smile,  affectionately 
stroking  the  mule's  nose  as  he  prepared  to  mount.  "  Ye 
look  out  for  our  own  interests  ;  that  is  so.  But,  ven  our  in- 
terests is  your  interests  too,  that  makes  it  goot  for  all.  This 
is  my  first  trip ;  and  I  vas  told  I  could  do  much  benefit  for 
your  cause." 

"  Have  you  any  pistols?  " 

"  No,  captain,  — wcry  sorry  to  say.  Pishtoles  is  hard  to 
get  through.  But,"  added  Carl  with  a  smile,  "  you  seem  to 
be  prowided  already." 


ENOS    FALLS    INTO    TEMPTATION.  135 

''  Any  percussion-caps,  or  any  powder  or  bullets  ?  "     And 
the  captain  overhauled  the  saddle-bags. 

"Bullets  is  too  heavy  to  priug ;  and  powder  and  caps  is 
not  conwenient,  the  police  is  so  sharp  in  Nashwille  !  " 
Whereupon  the  captain  expressed  boundless  disgust. 
"  Next  time  you  come  out,  bring  somethuig  we  want,  or 
I'll  take  from  you  every  thmg  you  have.  What  we  want  is 
materials  to  fight  with.  A  great  deal  of  good  you  do  the 
cause  with  your  needles  and  pins  and  side-combs  !  Go  about 
youi'  business  now,  you  Dutch  peddler  !  "  —  with  a  very  dis- 
paraging epithet. 

"  That  is  vat  I  vas  vishmg  to  do,"  said  Carl  pleasantly 
as  he  mounted. 

He  was  in  no  haste  to  depart,  however.  Both  he  and  Mr. 
Crumlett  were  experiencing  keen  anxiety  at  that  moment  con- 
cerning Pomp's  safety.  The  Riders  had  led  theii'  horses  to 
the  barn,  and  were  about  to  enter  in  seai'ch  of  forage.  The 
negro  might  indeed  attempt  to  hide  hunself :  but  the  proba- 
bility was  that  he  would  be  discovered ;  and  discovery,  under 
these  cu'cumstances,  would  be  fatal.  Pomp  knew  that,  and 
chose  a  bolder  course.  As  the  sergeant  of  the  party  was  going 
in,  the  negi'o  came  out. 

"  Take  your  boss,  massa?  Hay  or  corn,  sar?  "  said  he, 
ducking,  and  taking  off  his  hat  (an  old  one  of  Mr.  Crumlett's), 
obsequiously. 


136  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

**  Ha !  "  said  the  captain,  "  you  told  me  you  liad  lost  your 
niggers,  IMr.  Crumlett !  " 

"  All  but  this  one ;  that  is,"  said  Enos,  "  I've  let  'em  to 
Gov'ment.  This  one,  he  did  run  away ;  but  he  got  sick  of 
his  bargain,  and  was  glad  enough  to  run  back  again." 

"  Like  as  not  you'll  have  a  chance  to  lend  him  to  Govern- 
ment too,"  quietly  suggested  the  captain,  hghting  his  cigar. 

"Wal,"  faltered  Enos,  "he's  all  we've  got  to  depend 
on  now;  but,  if  it's  necessary,  they  ain't  a  man,  Cap'n 
Gruffley,  more  willin'  'n  I  be  to  make  sacrifices  for  my  coun- 
try." 

"  Perhaps  you'll  be  called  on  to  prove  that  soon.  Mean- 
while, you'd  better  be  ordering  our  dinner;  for  fifteen,  re- 
member." 

"  For  sixteen !  "  cried  a  new-comer,  riding  to  the  door. 
It  was  Bodson,  the  kidnapper.  "  I  reckon  I  shall  have  to 
tie  up  here  with  you,  captam." 

"  That's  right,  Bodson.  This  gentleman  will  be  delighted 
to  entertain  you.      Have  you  given  the  nigger  up  ?  " 

"  Yes,  about.  He  ain't  in  these  woods,  that's  certain. 
Say,  stranger,  you  hain't  seen  that  nigger  put  out  of  the 
bush,  have  you?  " 

Enos  was  almost  too  faint  to  speak ;  for,  at  that  moment, 
Pomp  came,  by  the  sergeant's  orders,  to  take  the  captain's 
horse. 


ENOS    FALLS    lyTO     TEMPTATION.  137 

**  What  sort  of  a  nigger  ?  "  Mr.  Cmmlett  inquired. 
'*  What  sort  ?  Any  nigger  !  A  boy  worth  twenty-six  hun- 
di-ed  dollars  of  any  man's  money !  A  noble  fellow,  taller'n 
your  man  thar  "  (Pomp  had  assumed  a  judicious  stoop ;  and, 
in  the  humble  part  he  was  playmg,  he  appeared  really  less 
than  he  was),  "and  stout  m  proportion." 

"No,  I  hain't  seen  any  nigger  but  him,"  said  Enos. 
"Niggers  is  gitting  skase  around  here.  I've  got  two  to 
work  for  Gov'ment,  and  I  'xpect  they'll  be  borryui'  this." 

"  Take  my  boss  along  too,  you  black  rascal !  "  cried  Bod- 
son. 

"  Yes,  massa  !  "  said  Pomp,  ducking  and  grinning. 
"What' 11  you  take  for  that  boy,  stranger?"  Bodson  in- 
quired, watching  hun  as  he  led  the  horses  away. 

" For  him?  "  Enos  started.  Here  was  an  openmg  for  a 
speculation  !  To  sell  Pomp  to  one  of  the  very  men  who  had 
kidnapped  hun,  and  were  even  then  in  search  of  him,  — what 
a  splendid  joke  that  would  be  !  Enos  relished  hugely  jokes 
of  that  sort.  He  disguised,  however,  the  eagerness  with 
which  he  eyed  the  enticing  bait ;  and  added,  with  the  assumed 
indifference  of  a  practised  jockey,  "  I  don't  know  :  he's  the 
only  one  I've  got  left.     Would  you  like  to  buy  ?  " 

"I'll  buy,  if  I  can  buy  cheap  enough.  I  never  saw  the 
time  yet  when  I  wasn't  ready  for  a  nigger-trade,  if  there  was 
a  chance  to  save  myself  by  it.     Is  he  sound  ? 


138  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Oh,  perfectly  !  —  far's  I  know." 

"  "Wal,  if  he's  all  right,  I  reckon  you'll  expect  to  git  about 
eight  or  nine  hundred  for  him  :  though  he  ain't  worth  that ;  no 
nigorer  is,  these  times." 

"  Only  the  one  you're  lookin'  for,  —  worth,  you  said,  twen- 
ty-six hundred  !  "     And  Mr.  Crumlett  smiled. 

"  Oh  I  that  was  talk,  mostly,"  replied  Bodson.  "Besides, 
he's  a  partic'lar  nigger :  I've  got  a  use  for  him.  If  you'd 
like  to  say  about  eight  hundred  for  this  one,  then  we'll  talk, 
—  provided  we  don't  ketch  the  one  we're  huntin' :  in  that 
case,  I  shouldn't  want  to  give  so  much." 

"Couldn't  think  of  eight  hundred,  stranger."  Yet  Mr. 
Crumlett  did  think  of  it,  and  reasoned  within  himself,  that  if 
he  could  get  Pomp  off  his  hands,  and  realize  half  that  sum 
for  him,  he  would  consider  himself  amazingly  fortunate. 
But  there  was  his  partner  in  the  transaction,  —  Fred:  what 
would  he  say  ?  "  Shouldn't  wonder  if  I  could  buy  out  his 
share  cheap,"  thought  Enos.  And  what  would  Pomp  say? 
He  did  not  trouble  himself  much  about  that.  A  negro,  in 
lus  eyes,  was  —  a  nigger  ;  mere  property  :  and,  besides,  even 
if  he  sold  Pomp  to  the  kidnapper,  he  would  be  no  worse  off 
than  he  was  before  he  escaped  from  the  kidnapper.  And  the 
fraud  practised  upon  Bodson,  —  "  That's  nothin' !"  thought 
the  honest  IMi-.  Crumlett.     "The  nigger  never  was  his'n. 


EN  OS    FALLS    INTO     TEMPTATION.  139 

any  how.  And,  after  all  my  losses,  I  ought  to  make  snthin' 
on  him,  if  anybody." 

These  thoughts  passed  through  his  mind  as  he  entered  the 
house  to  give  directions  about  the  dinner  ;  leaving  Bodson 
at  the  door.  He  found  Matilda  in  gi'eat  excitement  and  dis- 
tress, not  knowing  "  what  on  earth  she  should  do"  to  get 
dinner  for  so  many  men. 

**  Do  the  best  you  can,"  said  Enos.  "  'Tain't  so  bad  as 
it  might  be,  Tildy.  They'll  pay  in  Confed'rate  money,  1 
know ;  but  I've  got  an  idee  for  a  dicker  that'll  make  it  all 
right,  if  things  turn  out  as  I  guess  they  will.  I'll  go  and 
cut  the  ham,  and  help  you  all  I  can." 

He  went  to  the  pantry  for  a  knife  and  platter,  and  dis- 
covered his  associate  in  the  negro  speculation,  standing  up 
stiffly  behind  the  door,  and  appealing  extremely  modest  about 
being  seen. 

"  Sho  !  I'd  a'most  forgot  about  you  !  Thought  you  was 
to  the  bftni ;  but  I  remember  now,  —  you  was  eatin'  your 
dinner.     'Fraid  o'  these  fellers,  be  ye  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Fred  decidedly ;  for  again  he  had  recognized 
the  guerilla  captain  who  rode  by  Daniels's  side  on  the  morn- 
ing, and  almost  at  the  moment,  of  his  escape.  "If  they 
discover  me,  it  will  spoil  every  thing." 

"Will  it?     How  so  ?'^ 


140  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

**  They  will  inquire  into  my  business  ;  and  I'm  afraid  it 
wouldn't  bear  investigation.  Especially  if  they  know  I  came 
from  Nashville,  it  will  go  hard  with  me." 

"  What  do  ye  think  they'd  do  with  ye  ?  " 

"  Carry  me  off;  imprison  me." 

"  You  don't  say  !  And  the  nigger  —  what  would  become 
of  the  ni^ofer  ?  " 

CO 

"  If  any  thing  does  hajDpen  to  me,"  said  Fred  earnestly, 
"  do  the  best  you  can  for  him." 

"  Oh,  yes  !  certain,  certain,"  replied  Enos  with  feeling. 

"  They  haven't  recognized  hun  yet,  have  they?  " 

"  No  ;  and  I  guess  they  won't." 

*'  And  the  Dutch  peddler  —  where  is  he  ?  " 

"He's  jest  gone  off." 

"  And  will  I  be  safe  here  ?  " 

"  Safe  as  anywhere.  If  they  should  sarch  the  house  for 
ye,  they'd  find  ye  'most  any  place ;  and,  if  they  don't  sarch, 
you're  as  well  off  here.  But  darned  if  I  don't  wish  you 
was  out  of  the  house,  though  !  " 

"  So  do  I,"  said  Fred  ;  "but  it's  too  late  for  that." 

Enos  took  the  knife  and  plate,  and  proceeded  to  the  wood- 
shed. At  every  slice  of  the  ham,  he  paused  to  think.  What 
agitating  fancies  crowded  upon  hun !  "  It'll  take  the  hull 
ham  to  feed  sich  a  slew  of  men  !  "   *(A  slice.)    "  Confederate 


EXOS    FALLS    INTO    TEMPTATION.  141 

paper  ain't  worth  its  weight  in  corn-husks  !  "  (A  groan,  and 
another *lice.)  *'  If  I  can  make  four  or  five  hundred  dollars 
for  my  share  on  that  nigger,  though,  that'll  go  a  little  ways 
towards  makin'  up  for  my  losses.  If  'twan't  for  this  young 
feller,  now,  I  might  make  double  that.  Wonder  what  he'd 
take,  and  quitclaim  ?  I  thought  o'  makin'  on  him  an  offer  ; 
but  I'm  glad  I  didn't.  If  the  bushwhackers  should  diskiver 
hun,  and  carry  hun  off,  then  I  don't  see  but  that  I'd  be 
left  in  full  possession ;  and  that's  nine  pbits  o'  the  law." 
(A  long  pause,  and  then  another  slice  ;  Enos  appearing  ex- 
tremely troubled  about  something. )  "Of  course, ' '  —  poising 
the  knife  again, —  "  I  wouldn't  tell  on  him  ;  no,  I  wouldn't 
do  that :  but,  if  they  should  kind  o'  accidentally  stumble  on 
him,  that  would  be  a  good  thing  for  me  !  I  could  sell  the 
nigger,  without  askin'  leave  of  nobody.  And  why  should 
I  divide  with  him  ?  Wouldn't  they  have  ketched  the  nio-o-er 
'fore  this,  if't  hadn't  been  for  me  ?  What  claim  has  he  on 
him,  I'd  like  to  know?  He  never's  lost  a  nigger,  as  I 
have."  And,  having  thoroughly  reasoned  himself  into  the 
conviction  that  nobody  had  any  right  to  reap  benefits  from 
the  speculation  except  himself,  Mr.  Crumlett  took  off  another 
vigorous  slice. 


142  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


XIV. 

POMP  FINDS  EMPLOYMENT. 

RS.  CRUMLETT  could  not  make  veiy  rapid 
progress  cooking  "witli  one  spider  over  a  wood- 
fire  ;  and,  before  she  liad  got  half  through  the 
wilderness  of  ham  and  eggs  to  be  fried,  the  huugiy  soldiers 
began  to  eat  in  pursuit  of  her. 

The  family's  supply  of  crockery  was  Hmited  ;  but,  fortu- 
nately, each  man  had  his  camp  knife  and  fork  and  tin  plate. 
Only  the  captain  and  three  others,  of  whom  Bodson  was 
one,  entered  the  house,  and  sat  in  chairs  at  the  table :  the 
rest  remained  out  of  doors,  and  ate  with  their  plates  in  their 
laps,  sitting  on  the  ground. 

Mrs.  Crumlett,  heated  and  flushed  and  flurried  to  the 
last  degree,  continued  to  fry  the  bacon,  and  to  roast  her  own 
face  over  the  fire ;  while  Euos  and  the  two  older  children 
flew  about  excitedly,  waiting  on  their  guests.  No  sooner  was 
an  egg  or  a  slice  cooked  than  it  was  transferred  to  the 
plate  of  some  hungry  Rider  waiting  for  it.     Carter  and  two 


POMP    FINDS    EMPLOYMENT.  143 

of  the  band  had  not  yet  arrived.  Carter  had  postponed  the 
claims  of  appetite,  in  order  to  gallop  off,  and  bring  to  the 
hunt  a  friend  of  his  who  owned  a  pack  of  bloodhounds  that 
would  "follow  the  track  of  a  man"  (as  the  newspaper 
advertisements  said  of  them)  ;  while  the  two  guerillas  re- 
mained in  the  woods,  at  his  request,  to  keep  a  lookout  for 
Pomp. 

And  now,  to  the  astonishment  of  Mr.  Crumlett,  and  of 
Fred,  who  sui'veyed  the  scene  through  the  crack  of  the  pan- 
try door.  Pomp  himself  entered  the  house. 

"  Beg  pardon,  ge'men,  for  not  comin'  before;  had  to  look 
a'ter  de  bosses  ;  den  jes'  stop  to  wash  myse'f  to  de  well,  'fore 
I  waited  on  de  cap'n,"  he  said  with  the  air  of  a  menial 
proud  of  rendering  service  to  so  distinguished  a  personage. 

He  tied  a  towel  about  his  waist,  and  performed  his  self- 
appointed  task  with  a  neatness  and  alacrity  that  delighted 
Gruffley.  Bodson  also  regarded  him  with  increasing  interest, 
and  with  the  complacent  sidelong  glance  of  a  connoisseur. 

"  Look  here,"  he  said,  beckoning  to  Enos,  and  whispering 
in  his  ear  :  "  will  ye  say  eight  hundi^ed?  If  you  will,  it's 
a  bargain. '• 

"  Couldn't,  nohow ; "  and  ^Mr.  Crumlett  shook  his  head 
discouragingly. 

"I'll  make  it  nine  hundred.  That's  fair,  now,  my 
friend." 


144  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Yes,  fair;  but  then  !  "  said  Enos  with  a  look  implying 
that  such  a  piece  of  property  would  command  a  vastly  greater 
sum. 

"  What  do  you  expect  to  do  with  those  dogs,  Bodson?  '' 
asked  the  captain. 

*'  Do  with  'em  ?  Tree  that  nigger,"  replied  Bodson.  "  K 
Carter  can  get  'em,  he's  a  gone  case,  he  is  !  Dead  or  alive, 
we  have  him." 

"Fill  your  glass,  sar?  "  said  Pomp  with  servile  polite- 
ness, advancing  the  water-pitcher. 

"Have  a  taste  of  this,  Bodson,"  said  the  captain,  who 
had  a  flask  of  spirits  at  his  elbow.  "  Then  a  little  dash  of 
water,  Robert." 

Robert  was  Pomp,  who  helped  the  gentlemen  so  adroitly 
to  water,  after  they  had  helped  themselves  to  the  spirits,  that 
Bodson  regarded  hun  with  still-increasing  admiration. 

*'  Say  nine-fifty  :  a  big  price  it  is  too  !  "  he  whispered, 
pulling  Enos  down  till  his  ear  was  level  with  his  lips.  "  Is't 
a  trade?" 

But  still  Mr.  Crumlett  shook  his  head. 

"  Well,  here's  to  the  success  of  your  hunt,  Bodson,"  said 
the  captain,  raising  his  glass.  "  When  do  you  expect  to  get 
the  dogs  on  the  scent?  " 

"Before  night,  if  possible;    for  I'm  afraid  'twill  be  too 


POMP    FINDS    EMPLOYMENT.  145 

late  in  the  mommg :  the  scent  will  be  cold  then.     I  hope 
you'll  join  us,  captain,  and  see  the  sport." 

**  Should  be  delighted,"  replied  the  captain,  warming  with 
his  drink;  "but  we  have  a  hunt  of  our  own  to  prepai-e 
for." 

"  What's  that  ?  "  said  Bodson. 

"A  secret,"  laughed  the  captain.  "Even  my  own  men 
don't  know  it  yet,  —  only  the  lieutenant  here.  The  truth  is, 
we  succeeded  so  well  in  our  little  dash  yesterday  morning, 
that  we  are  going  to  try  another.  This  time  we  are  going 
in  greater  force.  There's  a  Federal  forage-train  that  will 
either  get  captured  or  burned,  unless  they  know  of  our  inten- 
tions, and  prepare  for  us  ;  which  isn't  likely."  And  another 
glass  of  liquor  disappeared  behind  the  captain's  beard. 

"Egg,  sar,"  said  Pomp,  skilfully  introducing  the  freshly 
cooked  morsel  to  Gruflfley's  plate. 

"  Thank  you,  ExDbert.  I  should  like  that  boy  for  a  body- 
servant,  Bodson.     Are  you  tiying  to  bargain  for  him  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Bodson  indifferently  :  "  his  master  either  don't 
want  to  sell,  or  else  he  expects  to  get  too  much  for  him. 
Tell  me  about  the  forage-train,  captain.     I'm  interested." 

There  was  another  present  still  more  deeply  interested  in 
that  subject  than  Bodson.     It  was  Pomp.     It  was  in  order 
to  gather,  from  the  chance  talk  of  these  men,  information  that 
13 


146  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

might  be  valuable  to  the  Federal  cause,  that  he  had  come  to 
wait  upon  them. 

The  captain  continued  to  ply  the  flask  of  spirits ;  and 
presently,  rendered  indiscreet  by  its  contents,  he  openly 
boasted  of  a  rebel  plan  for  surprising  a  position  on  Mill 
Creek  at  daybreak  the  following  morning,  and  destroying  a 
forage-train  stationed  there,  and  (according  to  one  of  Wheel- 
er's spies)  insufficiently  guarded. 

"  We  have  some  of  the  ablest  men  acting  as  spies  that 
can  be  found  in  the  service,"  he  continued.  "  One  of  them 
dined  with  General  Negley's  staff  the  other  day,  heard 
Yankee  plans  discussed,  and  reported  to  our  general  the 
next  morning.  We  have  an  agent  in  Nashville,  who  is  mak- 
ing arrangements  to  furnish  Rosecrans  himself  with  a  body- 
servant.  K  he  succeeds,  what  a  joke  it  will  be  to  receive 
almost  daily  reports  of  the  Federal  general's  table-talk, 
faithfully  jotted  down  by  the  rascal  behind  his  chau'  I  " 

The  captain's  friends  all  laughed  at  this  ;  and  even  Pomp 
grmned,  who  perhaps  had  the  best  reasons  of  any  one  for 
appreciating  the  humor  of  the  idea. 

"  Is't  a  nigger  you  're  going  to  give  Rosecrans?  "  Bodson 
asked. 

"  Oh,  no  !  "  said  the  captain  :  "  the  Abolition  generals  don't 
object  to  nigger  body-servants ;  but  we  couldn't  trust  one  in 


POMP    FINDS   EMPLOYMENT.  147 

such  a  position.  The  niggers,  somehow  or  another,  aie  all,  at 
heart,  on  the  Yankee  side." 

**If  I  had  my  way,"  said  Bodson,  "  I  wouldn't  leave  a 
nio-Q-er  within  a  hundred  miles  of  the  Union  hues.  Better 
send  'em  South,  at  any  sacrifice."  This  was  meant  for  Crum- 
lett's  ear  ;  and  holding  up  ten  fingers,  indicating  that  he  had 
raised  his  bid  for  Pomp  to  a  thousand  dollars,  he  lifted  his 
brow  interrogatively  as  he  caught  Enos's  eye. 

" I  haven't  much  faith  in  anybody,"  spoke  up  the  lieu- 
tenant. "  What  do  you  think  now  of  that  man  Daniels, 
captain?" 

"  I  think  he  is  a  true  man,  and  I  always  did." 

' '  Well,  he  may  be  ;  but  I  believe  he  dehberately  helped 
that  boy  to  escape  yesterday  morning." 

It  was  now  Fred's  turn  to  be  interested  ;  and  he  strained 
his  ear  to  catch  the  captain's  reply. 

"According  to  his  account,  it  was  all  right;  though  I  con- 
fess I  was  rather  suspicious  when  he  rode  up  without  the 
prisoner.  I  questioned  him  sharply.  He  said  his  saddle- 
girth  kept  troubling  hhn  ;  and  once,  when  he  halted  to  fix  it, 
the  boy  jumped  off,  and  tried  to  escape  in  the  woods.  He 
rode  after  him,  and  ordered  him  to  halt.  x\s  the  boy 
wouldn't,  he  fired.  The  boy  fell,  and  he  left  him  for  dead 
under  a  bush." 


148  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  It  was  in  these  very  woods  we  have  been  beating  througli 
to-day;  and  it  is  a  little  singular,  if  the  story  is  true,  that  we 
have  seen  no  signs  of  the  dead  body." 

"  So  it  is !  I  hadn't  thought  of  that,"  said  the  cap- 
tain. Then,  turning  to  Mr.  Crumlett,  "  Describe  that  chap 
that  was  with  you  this  morning,  when  I  called  you  from  the 
woods." 

"  Wal,"  began  Enos,  "  he  was  a  young  feller,  don'  know 
exactly  how  old  :  he  had  on  —  wal,  I  don't  exactly  remem- 
ber what  clo'es  he  did  have  on ;  and  as  for  his  complexion,  he 
was  either  light  or  dark,  I  mos'  forgit  which." 

"  TaU  or  short  ?  " 

"  Wal,  I  should  say  he  wan't  veiy  tall  for  a  man,  nor  very 
short  for  a  boy.  I  couldn't  swear  to  it ;  but  that's  my  im- 
pression." 

**  Wonderfully  definite  your  description  is !  I  reckon 
you're  interested  in  that  boy." 

*'  Wal,  I  be  some,  I  allow.  He  owes  me  for  a  meal  he 
et  in  my  house  ;  though  I  don't  much  expect  ever  to  git  my 
pay.  I've  had  to  feed  a  good  many  strangers,  cap'n,  past 
year ;  and  I  hain't  realized  nothin'  worth  while  for  it,  nei- 
ther," said  Enos  pathetically. 

"  Well,"  said  the  captain,  "  before  settling  my  bill,  allow 
me  to  inquire  if  yoa  have  any  blankets  in  your  house." 


POMP    FINDS    EMPLOYMENT.  149 

*'  Gracious,  no  !  "  replied  Enos,  teriified  at  the  question  : 
"  not  half  as  many  as  we  want !  Two  pah*  o'  twins,  cap'n, 
and"  — 

"  And  a  suffering  country  to  call  out  your  patriotism," 
added  the  captain.  "  We  have  cold  nights  now,  and  colder 
are  coming ;  and  my  command  is  short  of  blankets.  Gov- 
ernment can't  supply  them ;  and  I  have  to  take  them  where  I 
can  find  them,  —  paying  for  them,  of  course." 

"  In  Confed'rate  money  !  "  said  Enos. 

"  Certainly  :  what  else  would  you  have  ?  What  have  you 
to  say  against  Confederate  money  ?  "  demanded  the  captain, 
sternly  eying  his  host. 

"  Oh,  nothin',  nothin' !  "  said  Enos.  **  Only  I  ham't  got 
a  blanket :  not  a  blanket  to  spare  !  " 

"  Sergeant,  just  take  a  look  about  the  house  with  this 
man,  and  see  if  you  can't  find  something  he  may  be  induced 
to  part  with,  being  such  a  good  patriot." 

Enos  looked  like  a  sick  man  as  he  accompanied  the  ser- 
geant in  his  search.  And  now  Fred  had  reason  to  congratu- 
late himself  that  he  was  not  concealed  in  the  chambers  of  the 
house ;  yet  might  not  the  search  be  earned  even  into  the  pan- 
try, where  he  was  hid  ?  He  did  not  know.  Anxiously  he 
awaited  the  sergeant's  re-appearance.  At  length,  he  came, 
followed  by  the  miserable  Enos,  bearing  his  arms  full  of  bed- 

13* 


150  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

diner.  Mrs.  Cnimlett  was  so  overcome  at  the  sio;lit,  that,  hav- 
ing  no  chair  to  sit  in,  she  sat  down;  with  a  shriek,  upon  the 
kitchen-floor. 

"0  Enos,  Enos  !  we  can't  let  them  go!  Captain,  cap- 
tain, you  wouldn't  rob  us  of  our  all,  would  you?  " 

"Rob  you,- madam?"  said  the  captain.  "  If  you  call 
supplying  soldiers,  who  sleep  on  the  ground,  with  blankets  to 
protect  them  from  the  inclemency  of  the  season,  —  if  you 
call  that  robbery,  your  patriotism  and  that  of  your  husband 
will  have  to  be  inquired  into." 

"  Oh,  no  !  not  robbery ;  but  them's  all  we  have  for  our 
own  family  !  Think  of  two  pair  of  twins,  sir,  and  be  merci- 
ful !     You've  got  my  comforters  too  ! " 

"That  patch- work  quilt,"  said  Enos,  "is  one  my  own 
mother,  that's  dead  and  gone,  pieced  and  quilted  !  "  His 
voice  trembled,  and  his  eyes  filled  with  tears. 

"  She  did  it  in  a  good  cause  !  "  cried  the  captain.  "  These 
things  are  a  godsend  to  my  men.  Is  that  all  you  can  find, 
sergeant?     There's  a  room  you  haven't  searched." 

"That's  the  pantry!"  said  Mrs.  Crumlett,  fearing  not 
so  much  for  Fred  as  for  a  fine  row  of  cheeses  on  the  shelf, 
which  she  feared  might  prove  a  temptation  to  the  soldiers. 

But  Enos  said  not  a  word.  Perhaps  he  reflected,  that  to 
oppose  searching  the  pantry  would  insure  its  being  searched. 


POMP    FINDS    EMPLOYMENT.  151 

Perhaps  he  was  so  afflicted  by  the  prospect  of  losing  that  in- 
teresting memento  of  his  mother,  the  patch-work  quilt,  that  he 
took  no  thought  of  other  things.  And. yet  it  is  barely  pos- 
sible that  there  did  steal  into  his  mind  a  gleam  of  solace  in 
the  consideration,  that,  if  Fred  should  be  taken,  Pomp  would 
be  left.  Only  for  a  moment,  however,  did  he  appear  indif- 
ferent to  the  sergeant's  entering  the  pantry.  Then  —  proba- 
bly reflecting  that  the  discovery  of  Fred  concealed  in  his 
house,  especially  after  the  recent  conversation  concerning 
him,  might  prove  a  circumstance  fatal  to  himself  —  he 
started  forward.  But  the  movement,  if  intended  to  inter- 
cept the  sergeant,  was  too  late.  And  it  was  perhaps  better 
so ;  for  even  Pomp,  who  had  become  aware  of  Fred's  presence 
behind  the  door,  was  too  sagacious  to  attempt  to  prevent  what 
could  not  be  prevented. 

The  sergeant  entered.  He  discovered  no  blankets  in  the 
pantry;  but  he  did  discover  Fred.  Perhaps  that  circum- 
stance saved  Mrs.  Crumlett's  cheeses. 


152  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


XV. 


FRED  AND  POMP  DISPOSED    OF. 

RED,  who  had  had  ample  time  to  prepare  for  the 
unfortunate  event,  maintained  perfectly  his  self- 
possession,  and  marched  out  with  a  very  cheerful 
au,  considering  the  tight  hold  the  sergeant  had  on  his  collar. 
"  What's   that  ?  —  a    skulker  ?  —  a  spy  ?  "    cried   the 
captain. 

"■  I  don't  know.     I  found  him  hid  behind  the  door  here." 
"  Is  that  a  son  of  yours,  Crumlett?  " 
"  Wal,  not  exactly,"  stammered  Enos. 
"  Not  exactly !     What's  he  hid  in  your  pantry  for  ?  " 
"  He  knows  better'n  I  do.    I  had  nothin'  to  do  with  hidin' 
him  there  ;  that's  one  thing  sui'e." 

"  What !   don't  you  know  who  he  is?  " 
"  No  more'n  I  tell  you,  cap'n." 
"  He's  the  chap  we've  been  talking  about,  then  ?  " 
"I  s'pose  he  is,  cap'n." 
, "  Why,  then,  when  I  asked  you  for  a  description  of  him, 


FRED    AND    POMP    DISPOSED    OF.  153 

wLicli  you  couldn't  give  on  account  of  your  poor  memory, 
•why  didn't  you  call  out  the  fellow  himself?  " 

"  Hospitality  !  —  hospitality  ! —  the  laws  of  hospitaUty, 
cap'n!  "  was  all  Enos  could  say  in  reply  to  this  very  perti- 
nent and  embarrassing  question.  And  this,  it  would  S3em, 
should  have  been  a  sufficient  argument  in  the  chivalrous 
South  ;  but  it  did  not  satisfy  the  captain. 

**  You  had  some  other  reason,  Mr.  Crumlett  !  " 

"  Wal,  I  don'  know  but  I  did  ;  though  if  I  did  think  of 
his  owin'  me  for  his  dinner,  which  he  might  forgit  to  pay 
if  he  left  before  you  did,  that  wa'n't  the  main  reason.  Hos- 
pitality is  hospitality,  cap'n." 

*  *  That  will  do,  sir. ' '  Gmffley  turned  to  Fred :  ' '  Who  are 
you  ?     Where  do  you  come  from  ?  " 

Fred  was  now  beginning  to  realize  the  very  impoiimit  cir- 
cumstance in  his  favor,  that  he  had  not  yet  been  recognized  as 
the  escaped  prisoner.  He  therefore  answered,  with  a  bold 
face,  that  his  name  was  Rivers,  and  that  he  was  from  the 
vicinity  of  Nashville. 

"  But  you  are  from  the  North  !  " 

"  I  have  spent  a  few  summers  at  the  North,  and  have  been 
to  school  there  ;  but  I  was  born  in  Kentucky  :  my  father  is 
a  Kentuckian,  and  a  man  of  strong  Southern  principles." 

"  Well,  how  came  you  here  ?  " 


154  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

*'I  came  witli  some  friends  of  mine.     I  didn't  want  to 
come  ;   but  I  was  rather  forced  into  it  by   ciix-umstances." 
Fred  omitted  to   state,   however,  what  those  cux^umstances 
were. 
-    "  And  wher«  are  your  friends  now  ?  " 

"  They  have  gone  on  South." 

'*  x\nd  why  didn't  you  go  with  them?" 

'*  Because  I  preferred  to  remain  here  rather  than  go 
farther." 

**  And  you  are  expecting  their  return  ?  " 

*'  I  shall  be  veiy  glad  to  see  them  again,"  said  Fred  sin- 
cerely ;  "  but  I  don't  suppose  they'll  be  back  immediately." 

"  Were  they  smugglers?  " 

"  Well,  they  brought  a  few  things  with  them  through  the 
lines." 

"  Any  arms  or  ammunition  ?  " 

"A — ^very  —  limited  supply,"  said  Fred,  thinking  of 
what  had  been  taken  from  him  and  his  comrades  when  they 
surrendered.  "  But  we  disposed  of  them  pretty  soon.  We 
met  a  party  of  Confederate  cavalry  that  took  all  we  had." 

"  And  did  you  get  your  pay  ?  " 

"  They  did  not  pay  us  then ;  but  my  friends  went  with 
them,  and  of  course  the  cavalry  fellows  will  do  all  they  prom- 
ised." 


FEED    AXD    POMP    DISPOSED     OF.  155 

"  Well,  now  tell  me  what  you  hid  behind  that  door  for  ?  '* 

"  I'll  tell  you  truly.     I  didn't  wish  to  be  seen  by  you." 

"Why  not?" 

"  Because"  — Fred  hesitated  a  moment  —  "  because  the 
soldiers  I  have — had  dealings  with  —  since  we  disposed  of 
our  arms  and  ammunition  —  have  not  treated  me  very  well. 
Besides,  I  saw  that  you  did  not  appear  pleased  to  see  the 
peddler  that  you  sent  away  on  his  mule." 

*'  Is  he  one  of  your  friends  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  But  you  told  this  man,  when  you  came  to  his  house  last 
night,  that  you  were  going  to  join  the  army,  —  did  you 
not?" 

"  I  beheve  I  made  some  such  remark  to  him." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  captain,  "  I'll  furnish  you  facilities 
for  joining  the  army." 

"  But  I  didn't  mean  just  what  he  understood  me  to  say," 
replied  Fred,  aghast  at  this  sudden  turn  in  the  conversation. 
"  I  shall  wait  till  I  am  older  before  I  go  into  camp." 

"  You  are  old  enough.  What  you  lack  in  years  you  make 
up  in  smartness.  You've  told  me  a  mighty  smooth  story ; 
and,  to  save  the  trouble  of  learning  whether  it's  all  a  story, 
I  shall  just  turn  you  over  to  the  next  recruiting-of&cer. 
You'll  make  a  good  soldier  ;  and  that's  a  much  better  way  to 


156  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

serve  your  country  tban  smuggling  pins  and  peppermints. 
Sergeant,  away  with  him!     He's  bothered  us  long  enough." 

Fred  looked  the  captain  steadily  in  the  face  for  several  sec- 
onds ;  then  raised  his  eyes  to  the  face  that  shone  upon  him 
from  behind  the  captain's  chair.  It  was  the  face  of  Pomp  ; 
and  it  said  to  him  plainly,  "  Go ;  appear  to  consent :  it 
is  your  best  chance."  Already  the  negro,  by  his  innate 
power  and  sagacity,  had  gained  a  strong  influence  over  the 
boy,  who  hesitated  no  longer,  but  went  accordingly. 

Mr.  Crumlett,  who  had  watched  these  proceedings  with  ex- 
treme uneasiness,  now  experienced  a  feeling  of  relief  amount- 
ing almost  to  exultation.  His  connection  with  the  negro 
speculation  had  not  been  betrayed.  Fred  was  removed  qui- 
etly out  of  his  way;  and  there  was  Pomp  remaining,  with 
Bodson  at  hand,  anxious  for  a  trade. 

"  Never  mind  about  payin'  for  your  dinner  !  "  he  said  to 
Fred  magnanimously  as  they  parted  at  the  door.  "  And 
now,"  thought  Enos,  "  if  I  can  git  a  good  rousin'  price  for 
the  dinners  and  the  bcddin',  why,  I  sba'n't  make  sich  a  very 
bad  thing  on't,  after  all.  I'll  stick  the  cap'n  on  a  big  price, 
or  my  name  ain't  Crumlett !  " 

Already  the  captain  was  producing  his  pocket-book. 

"  Well,  friend,"  said  he,  "  about  what  do  you  think  I 
ought  to  pay  you  ?  Remember  that  you're  a  good  patriot, 
and  I'll  let  you  make  your  own  terms." 


FRED    AND    POMP    DISPOSED    OF,  157 

"  Wal,  —  Confed'rate  currency  so,  — I  only  want  to  live, 
ye  know  :  every  man  must  live." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  the  captain  dryly. 

'*  Wal,"  Enos  added,  too  intent  on  his  gains  to  take  the 
significance  of  the  retort,  "  say  ahout  —  dinners  four  dollars 
apiece  —  call  it  fifty  dollars  for  all ;  thirty  dollars  for  the 
horses,  that's  eighty ;  then  there's  the  blankets  and  comfters, 
—  say  seventy  dollars  for  them  ;  total,  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars.     Guess  that'll  be  about  right,  won't  it,  cap'n?  " 

*'  Certainly,  if  you  say  so,"  replied  the  captain  with  a 
smile.  "  The  sum  is  rather  larger,  howevQy,  than  I  expected ; 
and  I  shall  not  be  able  to  pay  cash  to-day." 

"  Wal,  then,"  said  Enos,  who  was  not  surprised  to  have 
his  bill  disputed,  "what  can  ye  pay  ?  " 

*'  I  will  give  you  a  certificate  of  indebtedness,  to  be  paid  at 
the  convenience  of  Government,  on  proof  of  your  loyalty." 
And  the  captain,  making  out  the  paper,  shoved  it  across  the 
table  to  the  thunderstruck  Mr.  Crumlett. 

"Now  see  here,  cap'n!  " — it  was  some  seconds  before 
Enos  could  speak,  he  was  so  choked  with  discontent,  —  "I 
can't  do  nothin'  with  this  'ere  stiffkit !  " 

"  It  is  the  best  I  can  do  for  you."  And  the  captain,  ris- 
ing abruptly,  left  the  house,  striding  slouchingly  m  his  pistol- 
garnished  boots. 

14 


158  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

'Pomp  went  out  to  assist  tlie  men  in  getting  up  their  horses ; 
so  that  Bodson  alone  was  left  with  Enos. 

"  I'll  give  ye  a  thousand  dollars  for  that  nigger,  Georgia 
currency.     I'll  go  over  to  Nolensville  and  raise  the  money, 
and. come  back  before  night,  and  take  the  nigger." 
"  Say  nothin'  to  nobody,  and  it's  a  bargain  !  " 
**  x\ll  rio^ht !  "   and  Bodson  went  for  his  horse.     *'  This 

o 

extry  boss  of  mine,"  said  he  significantly  to  3Ir.  Crumlett, 
who  followed  him, — it  was  the  same  animal  upon  whose 
back  Pomp  had  been  bound — "I'll  leave  with  you  till 
along  towards  night,  when  I  call  to  settle  my  bill.  I  shall 
want  to"  take  him  away  then,"  he  added,  with  a  gloating  look 
at  Pomp, 

There  was  now  but  one  difficulty  remaining  to  be  over- 
come :  the  negro  must  be  managed.  But  Enos  was  a  man 
of  inventive  genius,  and  he  never  doubted  his  ability  to  do 
that.  He  took  ample  time  to  consider  the  matter;  Pomp 
meanwhile  refreshing  himself  after  past  fatigues,  and  prepar- 
ing for  future  action,  by  sleeping  in  the  barn. 

"  Hillo,  hillo,  Bob  !  "  said  Enos,  coming  to  wake  him. 

"  Yes,  massa  I  "  said  Pomp,  sitting  up  on  the  straw,  and 
winking  at  Mr.   Cramlett. 

"  Bob,  my  boy,"  said  Enos  with  a  great  show  of  sincerity, 
"  I  been  thinkin'  about  your  ease ;  and  I  can't  see  the  way 
clear  to  keep  you  here  much  longer." 


FRED    AND    POMP    DISPOSED    OF.  159 

"  Whar  sli'll  I  go  ?  "  Pomp  asked  with  a  blank  expres- 
sion. 

"  I  been  tryin'  to  fix  things  for  ye  ;  and  I  guess  I've  got 
'em  about  in  shape.  Do  ye  know  that  cap'n  got  his  eye 
on  you  ?  They  mean  to  rob  me  of  every  thing  I  have  ;  and 
I  shouldn't  wonder,  if,  this  very  night,  you  was  sent  to  work 
on  the  fortifications.  Then  there's  another  danger,  —  them 
dogs.  I  don't  much  expect  they'll  be  here  before  to-morrer 
mornin' ;  and  I  could  see  Bodson  didn't  much  expect  they 
would,  neither :  but  then  they  may.  'Twould  be  uncom- 
f 'table  for  both  on  us  to  have  'em  track  you  here." 

**  Yes,  sar."  Pomp  scratched  his  head.  "  Now  I  do  jes' 
what  you  say,  massa." 

"  That's  right;  that's  the  way  to  talk !  My  plan's  this  : 
Bodson  wants  to  hire  you  for  a  few  days,  and  he  engages  to 
keep  you  out  o'  the  clutches  of  Gov'ment.  He  wants  you 
to  go  to  Chapel  Hill  to  take  care  of  some  bosses  for  a  friend 
of  his  that  he's  interested  with,  furnishin'  bosses  for  Gov'ment. 
He'll  use  you  well,  and  bring  you  back  when  I  want  you. 
You'll  be  as  safe  with  him  as  with  anybody  :  only  be  careful 
he  don't  find  out  you're  the  man  he  kidnapped." 

"  Tank  ye,  massa :  s'pose  ye  know  best,"  said  Pomp. 

"  Wal,  then,  you  can  go  to  sleep  agin;  and,  when  you're 
wanted,  I'll  let  ye  know."      And  Enos  withdrew,  delighted 


160  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

with  Ms  apparent  success;  while  Pomp  stretched  himself 
again  upon  the  straw,  and  slept  again. 

At  about  sundown,  Bodson  returned. 

"I've  seen  Carter,"  he  said.  "He  couldn't  get  the 
dogs.  That's  his  business  :  the  nigger's  his  loss,  and  I've  no 
more  to  do  with  it.     "Whar's  the  boy  I  bargained  for  ?  "  < 

"In  the  barn,"  said  Enos.  "I've  talked  with  him,  and 
he  ain't  very  willin'  to  go." 

"  That  don't  make  no  difference  :  they  never  be  !  "  and 
Bodson  laughed.  "I've  got  some  handcuffs  to  put  onto 
him,  if  necessary." 

"  On  the  hull,"  said  Enos,  "  I  guess  he'd  bettor  not  know 
he's  sold.  I've  told  hira  you'll  hire  him,  and  take  him  to 
Chapel  Hill  to  look  after  bosses  ;  and  he  'pearcd  to  like 
that.  It'll  be  easier  and  pleasanter  all  around  to  let  it  go 
that  way." 

"  Yery  good,"  said  Bodson.     "  I  ain't  partic'lar." 

"  By  the  way,"  observed  Enos,  "  I  come  by  that  nigger  a 
kind  of  a  roundabout  way.  I  don't  want  you  to  inquire 
into't  too  close  ;  but,  as  you're  buyin'  him,  I  thought  I'd 
mention  it." 

"  What !  can't  you  give  me  a  good  claim  to  him  1  " 

"  Wal,  good  enough  to  answer  your  purpose.  There  ain't 
nobody  that's  got  a  better  claim  to  him  tlian  I  have ;  and  I'll 
make  that  over  to  ye  clear." 


FRED    AND    POMP    DISPOSED     OF.  161 

"Look  here!"  said  Bodson  seriously;  '^  tell  me  about 
that !  " 

"  Agree  not  to  ax  no  questions  that  'twouldn't  be  agi-ee- 
able  for  me  to  answer,  and  I'll  give  ye  the  bare  facts.  You 
won't  approve,"  said  Enos  with  a  preternaturally  honest 
face,  "  and  I  don't  approve.  I  wouldn't  kidnap  a  nigger, 
and  you  wouldn't,  of  coui'se." 

"  What  do  ye  mean  ?  "  cried  Bodson. 

"  But  if  a  nigger  should  fall  into  your  hands  after  he's 
kidnapped,  that  would  be  diflf'rent,"  said  Mr.  Crumlett. 
"Now,  I  suspect, — for  I  don't  know,  I  don't  know," 
emphatically,  —  "but  I  suspect  Bob  was  ketehed  some- 
where in  the  Union  lines,  and  smuggled  through  by  some  of 
our  boys.  /  hadn't  nothin'  to  do  with't,  though  :  /  come  by 
him  honestly.  Sich  things  do  happen,  I'm  told."  And  the 
upright  Enos  scraped  his  nails. 

"  How  long  ago  was  this  ?  " 

"  That  I  don't  know  :  fact,  I  never  knew  the  partic'lars. 
I've  had  him  now  —  wal,  it's  conside'ble  less'n  a  year." 

"Crumlett,"  said  Bodson  with  emotion,  "you're  an 
honester  man  than  I  thought,  if  ye  be  Yankee-born.  You 
might  have  sold  me  the  nigger,  and  said  nothin'  of  all  that. 
But  honor  in  trade  :  that's  my  motto." 

"  Of  course,  of  course  !  "  said  Enos  sympathetically. 
14* 


162  TEE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Now,  I'll  tell  ye  what  I'll  do  with  ye.  I  can't  give  ye  a 
thousand  down,  considering  your  claim  ain't  no  better ;  but 
I'll  give  ye  five  hundred,  and  ask  no  questions,  and  run  my 
own  risks.  Then,  if  it  turns  out  all  right,  and  I  make  a 
good  speculation,  I'll  give  you  t'other  five  hundred  in  six 
months." 

''  Couldn't  possibly,"  said  Enos.  "  But  I'll  tell  ye  what 
I  will  do.  Give  me  eight  hundred  down ;  and,  as  you  say, 
ax  no  questions,  and  run  your  own  risks  :  sign  a  paper  to  that 
effect,  and  he  is  yourn." 

To  this  proposition  Bodson  at  length  consented  :  the  paper 
was  drawn  up  and  signed,  and  the  money  paid. 

Pomp,  in  the  mean  time,  brought  the  horses  to  the  door. 

"  Wal,  Bob,"  said  Enos,  with  difficulty  concealing  his 
delight  under  an  honest,  sober  aspect,  "ye  goin'  with  this 
man?     Jes'  for  a  few  days,  ye  know." 

"  I  spec'  I  do  as  you  say,  massa,"  said  Pomp.  / 

"Wal,"  said  Bodson,  "tie  the  horses'  heads  together, 
and  jump  on  to  that  one."  Pomp  obeyed.  His  horse  had 
no  bridle,  and  his  halter  was  fastened  to  that  of  Bodson's 
horse.  "  Good-day,  Mr.  Crumlett !  Whenever  you  want 
your  man  back  again,  you've  only  to  let  me  know." 

"  All  right.  Good-evenin'  !  Good-by,  Bob  !  Be  a  good 
boy,    Bob,    and   don't   forgit.  —  The    greatest    spec'lation, 


FRED    AND     POMP    DISPOSED     OF.  163 

Tildy  !  "  exclaimed  Enos,  unable  longer  to  conceal  bis  joy, 
but  laugbing  excitedly  as  be  watcbed  tbe  borses  trotting 
briskly  away  witb  tbeir  riders,  "tbe  all-firedest  cutest  tbin^y 
ever  I  done  in  all  my  born  days  !  "  And  again  be  counted 
bis  money,  and  read  over  tbe  paper,  by  signing  wbich  Bodson 
bad  cut  himself  off  from  all  redress. 


lU 


THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


XYI. 


WHAT  BECAME    OF  FRED. 


EANWHILE  Fred,  placed  upon  a  horse,  and 
guarded  by  a  mounted  rifleman,  the  sight  of 
whose  carbine  he  particularly  disliked,  -was  con- 
ducted over  the  cross-road  towards  the  Murfreesborough  pike. 

**  Where  ai-e  we  going?  "  he  inquired  of  his  escort. 

'*  To  Stewartsborough,"  replied  the  man. 

"  What  are  we  going  to  Stewartsborough  for?  " 

"  Enlist :  you  are  a  recruit ;  didn't  you  know  it?  " 

"Yes,"  said  Fred;  "  but  I'd  rather  choose  my  own  time 
and  place  for  enlisting." 

"  Can't  help  it.  We're  bound  for  Stewartsborough  :  that's 
the  captain's  orders." 

"  x\nd  there's  no  way  I  can  get  off  ?  " 

"  Not  as  I  know  on,"  said  the  man  sullenly. 

"  Not  if  I  give  you  money  ?  " 

"  How  much  money  have  ye  got  ?  " 


WHAT    BECAME    OF    FRED.  165 

"Four  dollars,  in  green-backs,"  replied  Fred  with  a 
gleam  of  hope. 

"That  all?" 

"  I  have  thirty  cents  in  fractional  currency." 

'*  Give  me  the  four  dollars  and  thirty  cents." 

"  And  you  will  let  me  go  ?  " 

"  I'll  do  what  I  can  for  ye." 

Encouraged  by  this  promise,  Fred  gave  the  man  his 
money ;  and  the  man,  glancing  at  it  with  satisfaction,  put  it 
into  his  pocket. 

•'  Now  where  will  you  take  me  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

**  Same  place,"  repUed  the  guard  stolidly. 

"To  Stewartsborough?" 

"Precisely." 

"What  shall  I  do  there?" 

"Enlist." 

"  Then  you  don't  mean  to  let  me  go?"  Fred  demanded 
indignantly. 

"Nary  a  bit  of  it." 

"  Then  what  did  you  take  my  money  for  ?  " 

' '  To  prevent  your  offering  it  to  the  next  man,  who  would 
take  it,  as  I  do,  and  might  let  you  go,  as  I  don't." 

Fred,  vexed  as  he  was,  could  not  help  smiling  —  though 
rather  bitterly  —  at  the  fellow's  dry  humor.     The  prospect 


166  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

before  him  was  discouraging  in  the  extreme.  They  were 
travelling  faster  and  faster  in  the  du-ection  in  which  he  did 
not  wish  to  go.  Reaching  the  Murfreesborough  pike,  they 
continued  their  course  towards  the  south-east  amid  clouds  of 
dust  raised  by  army  wagons  and  troops  passing  to  the  front. 
Of  course,  any  attempt  to  escape,  under  the  circumstances, 
would  have  proved  futile,  if  not  fatal. 

Only  once,  and  only  for  an  instant,  Fred  saw  a  ray  of 
hope.  It  shone  upon  him  through  a  dusty  cloud  that  envel- 
oped a  sutler's  wagon,  on  the  other  side  of  which  rode  a 
horseman  at  a  rapid  trot.  That  horseman  was  Daniels. 
Whether  a  spy  or  not,  whether  an  enemy  or  a  fi-iend  to 
the  Union  cause,  he  appeared  to  Fred,  for  the  moment, 
only  as  the  disinterested  stranger  who  had  rescued  him  once 
from  rebel  hands,  and  might  rescue  him  again.  He  lifted  his 
hand  to  attract  his  attention,  and  was  about  to  call  to  him ; 
when  he  remembered  that  already  this  man  had  run  a  great 
risk  on  his  account,  and  that  it  might  prove  his  iiiin  to  claim 
his  acquaintance  now.  He  shrank  from  an  act  of  such  in- 
gratitude ;  and  Daniels,  who  was  riding  in  the  opposite  di- 
rection, evidently  on  urgent  business,  failed  to  recognize  him, 
if  he  noticed  him  at  all,  through  the  thick  dust-cloud. 

*'  Do  you  know  that  man?  "  asked  the  guard. 

"I  thought  I  knew  him  at  first,"  said  Fred.  "  Who  is 
he?" 


WHAT    BECAME    OF    FRED.  167 

'•He's  the  man  that  shot  a  young  fellow  he  was  guarding 
yesterday  morning,  —  one  of  the  prisoners  we  gobbled  up ; 
just  as  I  shall  serve  you,  if  you  go  to  playing  me  any  tricks." 

"  Did  he  actually  shoot  a  prisoner?  " 

"  So  he  says;  though  some  of  our  boys  doubted  it.  The 
fellow  tried  to  get  away  from  him,  and  he  stopped  him  with  a 
bullet.  It  must  have  been  somehow  so,  or  else  he  let  his 
prisoner  get  away,  and  was  ashamed  to  own  it." 

You  may  be  sure  that  Fred  listened  with  pecuhar  interest 
to  this  story ;  and  he  was  now  more  than  ever  glad  that  he 
had  not  spoken  to  Daniels  when  they  met.  "He  maybe 
going  now  to  look  for  me  in  the  woods,  and  help  me  get 
away  !  "  thought  he.  "I  wish  he  had  seen  me  !  But,  if  I 
bad  called,  I  might  have  betrayed  myself  and  him  too." 

Regrets  were  useless ;  forebodings  of  evil  in  store  for  him  at 
Stewartsborough  were  equally  useless.  To  Stewartsborough  he 
must  go ;  and  there  was  nothing  now  for  him  to  do  but  to  trust 
bhndly  in  Providence  to  guide  him  through  perils  which  he 
could  not  even  foresee.  Enhst?  "I'll  die,"  thought  he, 
"before  I  ever  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  Jeff's  govern- 
ment ! " 

"There's  you  quarters,  over  yonder,"  said  his  guard, 
pointing  out  an  infantry  camp  on  the  outskirts  of  the  village. 

Kidiug  up  to  the  line  of  sentinels,  he  made  known  his  busi- 


168  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

ness,  and  was  conducted,  with  his  unwilling  recruit,  into  the 
presence  of  the  officer  of  the  day, 

"  He's  too  light  for  our  service,"  said  he  :  "so  the  captain 
sends  him  as  a  present  to  you." 

"Your  captain  is  very  kind,"  replied  the  officer;  "but 
our  regiment  is  full." 

Fred's  heart  gave  a  bound  of  hope. 

"  That's  a  pity,"  said  his  guard;  "for  he's  very  anxious 
to  enlist." 

"  So  very  anxious,"  interposed  Fred,  assuming  an  air  of 
gayety,  "  that  if  you'll  allow  me  to  choose  my  own  regiment, 
and  have  my  own  way,  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  have  a 
musket  on  my  shoulder."  Indeed,  he  most  devoutly  wished 
that  he  was  in  the  ranks  of  his  "own  regiment  "  at  that  very 
moment. 

The  officer  to  whom  he  had  been  brought  seemed  inclined 
to  regard  him  favorably ;  but  the  man  who  had  brought  him 
whispered  in  his  ear  something  which  effected  a  change  in  his 
manner  at  once. 

"I'll  take  care  of  him.  We  have  orders  to  send  all  such 
cases  to  the  conscript  camp  at  Mui-freesborough.  Tried  to 
bribe  you  to  let  him  go?     Well,  we'll  j&x  him." 

So  much  Fred  overheard  the  officer  saying :  and  he  knew 
that  all  he  had  accomplished  by  offering  his  guard  money  was 


WHAT   BECAME    OF    FEED.  169 

to  lose  it  in  the  first  place  ;  and,  in  the  second  place,  to  secure 
for  himself  stricter  treatment  here  in  the  rebel  camp  than  he 
might  otherwise  have  received. 

In  fact,  he  was  immediately  taken  to  the  guard-tent,  and 
confined.  Even  if  he  had  been  allowed  the  freedom  of  the 
camp-ground,  escape  would  have  been  extremely  difficult ; 
but,  under  present  circumstances,  it  was  impossible.  There 
were  two  or  three  prisoners  with  hun  in  the  tent :  their  sup- 
pers were  .soon  brought  in ;  and  instead  of  losing  heart,  and 
repining  at  his  misfortune,  he  cultivated  a  cheerful  aspect, 
made  acquaintance  with  his  chance  companions,  and  ate  his 
supper  with  them.  Then,  when  night  came,  he  lay  down 
upon  the  ground,  and  thought  of  his  mother  and  of  the  mor- 
row, and  of  Him  whose  power  is  over  all  things,  until  he  fell 
asleep. 

15 


170  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


xvn. 

WHAT  HAPPENED   TO  POMP  AND   OTHERS. 

RISKLY  along  the  cross-road,  towards  the  turn- 
pike, rode  Bodson  and  his  new  man.     The  kid- 
napper was  scarcely  less  pleased  with  his  bar- 
gain than  Enos  himself. 

**  For  the  nigger,"  he  reasoned,  "is  Carter's  loss.  This 
one  is  equally  as  good,  and  I  sha'n't  be  obliged  to  share  the 
profits  on  him  with  any  one.  Just  as  lieves  have  a  kidnapped 
nigger  as  any  other  ;  and  I'm  afraid  I  sha'n't  be  as  honest 
with  the  man  I  sell  him  to  as  Crumlett  was  with  me.  What 
are  ye  grinning  at,  Bob  ?  '* 

"  Massa,"  said  the  fictitious  Bob,  "I  know  sumfin'  !  — 
"^sumfin'  you'd  be  glad  to  know  too  !  " 
*' Wal,  whatisit?" 
'"Bout  dat  darky." 
"  What  darky,  you  rascal  ?  " 
"  De  one  you  lost  to-day." 


POMP    AND    OTHERS.  171 

"  You  know  about  him  ?  " 

'■*  I  know  sumfin'  !  You  tell  me  one  t'ing,  and  I  tell  you 
eber't'ing." 

**  What !  You  try  to  drive  a  bargain  with  your  master?  " 
cried  Bodson  angrily,  stopping  the  horses. 

"  Yes,  massa  !  "  said  Pomp  humbly,  but  firmly.  "  One 
t'ing  I  wants  to  know.     Have  you  bought  me,  massa?  " 

*'  Yes,  you  black  villain  !  Now  tell  me  what  you  know 
about  that  nigger,  or  I'll  stop  and  lick  ye  on  the  spot." 

"  Did  Massa  Crumlett  sell  me?  " 

"  I  tell  you,  yes,  — for  eight  hundred  dollars,  cash  :  I  paid 
him  the  money." 

"  Dat's  all,"  said  Pomp.  **  On'y  wanted  to  know. 
Now  you  go  wid  me,  and  I  show  you  whar  dat  darky  was 
hid." 

"Is  he  there  now ? "  demanded  Bodson  earnestly. 

*'  He  won't  be  fur  from  de  spot.     I'll  show  him  to  you. 


"  Bob  !  "  cried  Bodson  with  excitement,  V  if  you're  tell- 
ing me  the  truth,  and  if  we  ketch  the  nigger,  I'll  do  the 
handsome  thing  by  you,  —  see  if  I  don't !  But  by  "  —  he 
swore  a  dreadful  oath,  and  showed  the  handle  of  his  bowie- 
knife,  —  "if  you're  fooling  me,  it'll  be  as  much  as  your  skin 
is  worth  !  " 


172  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  I  know,  massa,"  said  Pomp,  so  quietly,  yet  decidedly, 
that  Bodson  was  convinced  of  bis  sincerity. 

They  reached  the  turnpike ;  then,  instead  of  turning  south- 
ward, Bodson,  by  Pomp's  direction,  reined  the  horses  into 
the  woods,  and  approached  the  thicket  in  which  Pomp  and 
Fred  liad  been  last  concealed. 

"  Dis  de  place,  massa,"  said  Pomp. 

Bodson,  peering  eagerly  into  the  bushes,  halted  the  borses, 
and  dismounted. 

"  Alight !  "  he  commanded.  "  Come  with  me,  and  show 
me." 

"  Dis  way,  massa.  Here's  de  proof."  And,  creeping  a 
short  distance  into  the  thicket,  he  withdrew  again,  dragging 
something  with  lum.     "You  know  dat,  massa?  " 

Bodson  knew  it:  'twas  the  rope  wherewith  Pomp  had 
been  bound. 

*'  But  whar  —  whar  is  the  nigger?  "  cried  Bodson. 

No  longer  suspicious  of  Pomp's  fidelity,  but  thrown 
entirely  off  his^guard,  he  stooped  to  peer  into  the  deep  twi- 
light gloom  of  the  thicket,  hoping  to  discover  his  stray  negro 
there.  Then,  with  the  suddenness  of  a  hghtning's  flash,  a 
change  came  over  Pomp.  The  humble,  obedient  slave  dis- 
appeared ;  and  in  his  place  stood  the  untamable,  terrible 
African. 


POMP    AND    OTHERS.  173 

*'  I  am  the  nigger !  "  he  said  in  a  voice  as  changed  as  his 
face,  —  a  voice  which  smote  the  soul  of  Bodson  like  a  thunder 
clap. 

Pomp  waited  for  him  to  turn ;  for  he  would  not  smite 
even  his  foe,  as  he  had  been  smitten  by  him,  from  behind. 
But  as  Bodson  started  back,  thrusting  his  hand  into  his 
bosom  for  his  knife  and  confronting  him,  Pomp  sent  out 
from  the  shoulder  one  light,  swift,  straight  blow  with  his  j5st, 
which  felled  him  like  an  ox  sti-uck  by  the  butcher's  sledge. 
Then,  in  an  instant,  the  kidnapper  was  disarmed.  "  Scream, 
and  you  are  a  dead  man  !  But,  in  a  minute,  you  may  scream 
as  loud  as  you  please.  Do  you  remember  this  thing  ?  " 
Pomp  di-ew  from  his  pocket  the  identical  gag  which  had  been 
thrust  into  his  own  mouth  the  night  before.  As  Bodson  had 
dene  unto  him,  so  now  he  did  unto  Bodson.  Then,  from  the 
pocket  of  the  kidnapper,  he  took  the  handcuffs  which  were  to 
have  been  placed  upon  his  own  wi'ists  in  case  of  necessity,  and 
fastened  them  on  the  kidnapper's.  Then,  having  bound  his 
feet,  he  threw  him  upon  the  same  horse  that  had  carried  him, 
and  lashed  him  there  with  many  a  twist  and  turn  of  the  rope 
inextricable.  And  all  the  while  poor  Bodson,  in  his  terror 
and  pain,  could  only  writhe,  and  utter  gi'oans  stifled  by  the 
ruthless  o-ao;. 

*' Now  good-by,  my  honored  friend!     I  have  to  pay  a 

15* 


174  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

visit  to  Cruralett :  then  you'll  see  me  again,  if  it  isn't  too 
dark  by  that  time." 

Leaving  the  horses  tied,  Pomp  dashed  across  the  field,  and 
bounded  in  upon  Enos  in  his  kitchen  before  that  self-com- 
placent speculator  had  done  chuckling  over  his  trade. 

**  What's  to  pay  ?  "  ejaculated  Enos^  springing  to  his  feet 
at  the  sight  of  the  threatening  black  face. 

"  Eight  hundred  dollars ! "  said  Pomp,  stern  and  men- 
acing. 

**Why,  Bob!"  Enos  chattered  with  fright:  "what  do 
you  mean  ?  " 

"I  mean,  I  have  been  sold.  The  money  has  been  paid 
to  you.  It  belongs  to  me.  I  have  settled  with  the  owner 
of  this  knife  ;"  showing  Bodson^s  weapon,  at  which  Matilda 
and  the  children  uttered  screams.  *'  Now  I  have  come  to 
settle  with  you." 

*'  To  kill  me  !  "  gasped  Enos,  white  with  mortal  fear. 

"  Instantly  !  "  said  Pomp  in  a  terrible  voice,  "  unless 
you  give  me  what  is  mine !  " 

"The  money,  the  money! — here  it  is!"  said  Enos, 
showing  it  on  the  table,  where  he  liad  been  counting  it  for 
the  twentieth  time.  Much  as  he  loved  lucre,  he  loved  life 
more  ;  and  he  knew  the  black  visage  meant  death  to  him,  if 
he  did  not  obey.  ' 


POMP    AND    OTHERS.  175 

"  Ono  thing  more,"  said  Pomp,  pocketing  liis  price  with 
a  grim  smile.  "Yon  forget  that  you  sent  me  off  without 
my  supper/* 

"  The  soldiers  et  every  thing  !  "  said  Enos,  his  hair  still 
bristling  erect  on  his  head. 

"  There  are  cheeses  left,"  said  Pomp.     "  Bring  me  one." 

One  was  brought ;  by  whom,  not  one  of  the  family  could 
ever  tell :  for  Enos  declared  afterwards  that  he  did  not  bring 
it ;  and  Matilda  was  stuck  up  in  a  comer  of  the  room,  dumb 
and  motionless  with  fright ;  and  the  cheese  was  too  large  for 
the  children  to  lift  from  the  shelf.  But  all  remembered 
seeing  the  black  man  carve  out  a  liberal  wedge  of  it  with  two 
strokes  of  his  horrid  knife  ;  and  after  he  was  gone,  the  visi- 
ble proof  remaining,  that  his  visit  was  not  a  hideous  dream, 
was  the  cut  cheese  on  the  table. 

With  the  price  of  his  bone  and  muscle  in  his  pocket, 
together  with  his  untasted  supper  of  cheese,  Pomp  ran  back 
to  the  woods  as  swiftly  as  he  came ;  found  Bodson  bound  as 
he  had  left  him;  then  unfastened  the  horses,  mounted 
the  kidnapper's,  and,  leading  the  other,  drove  away  north- 
ward through  the  woods. 

"  0  Enos,  Enos  !  "  moaned  Matilda,  wrmging  her  hands. 
"  Did  he  take  all  the  money  ?  " 

Enos  was  speechless.     He  paced  the  floor  wildly;  then 


176  TEE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

threw  himself  upon  a  chair,  with  smothered  groans,  and 
exclamations  of  rage  gi'ound  fine  between  his  teeth.  The 
hair  of  his  head,  which  had  of  late  been  standing  erect  with 
fear,  he  now  began  to  pluck  out  despairingly  by  the  roots. 

"What  made  you  let  him?"  cried  Matilda.  "You 
didn't  even  say  no  !  If  he'd  asked  for  your  soul,  I' 
do  believe  you'd  have  given  it  up  to  him,  you  was  so 
scaret !  " 

''Thunder  and  lightning!"  bui'st  forth  Enos,  "wasn't 
you  scaret  ?  You  aggravate  me  to  death  with  your  talk  ! 
Ain't  it  enough  to  be  robbed  and  murdered,  without  havin' 
to  be  blamed  for  it  afterwards  ?  " 

"  You  ain't  murdered  yet ! " 

"  Nobody  knows  when  I  shall  be,  if  I  ain't !  Don't  you 
wish  I  was  ?  I  do !  I've  lived  long  enough  !  Sich  a 
day's  work  !     Oh  !  " 

*'  To  stand  still,  with  your  hands  folded,  I  may  say,  and 
have  your  money  took  from  you  in  that  way ! "  said 
Matilda.  **  I'd  have  done  something.  I'd  have  said 
something  at  least.  I'd  have  thought  of  my  duty  to  ray 
wife  and  children,  even  if  I  was  too  mean-sphited  to  stand 
up  for  my  own  rights." 

"Duty  to  wife  and  —  Jerashy  mighty!"  roared  Enos, 
like  a  stung  wild  beast.     "Stop   the  children's  noise!  — 


POMP    AND    OTHERS.  177 

that's  your  duty.     You  and  them  keep  up  sich  a  clatter,  I 
can't  hear  myself  think !  " 

"  Do  you  expect  you're  going  to  be  frightened  out  of  your 
wits  by  a  great  black  negro,  and  they  won't  cry  ?  Oh  !  it's 
for  men  to  be  scaret,  I  see !  but  women  and  children  are 
expected  to  keep  calm  !  Eight  hundred  dollars  :  was  it  eiglit 
hundred'^  " 

*'  There,  now  :  I  never  shall  hear  the  end  of  that !  "  said 
Enos  in  the  tone  of  a  broken-hearted  man.  *'  You'll  fling 
it  in  my  face  to  the  end  of  time  !  I  may  as  well  give  up  all 
idea  of  having  any  more  comfort  in  my  own  house,  first  as 
last." 

*'Well,"  retorted  Matilda  tartly,  "if  you  can  have  any 
more  comfort  out  of  it,  you're  welcome  !  " 

"  By  George,  I  will !  I  may  as  well  leave  this  country 
now  as  any  time.  It's  nothin'  but  rob,  rob,  rob,  as  long  as 
I  stay  here.  I'd  rather  live  a  beggar  in  the  North,  than 
have  property  here ;  and,  if  I  can  git  there,  you're  welcome 
to  what's  left  behind.  No  doubt  you  can  take  care  of  things 
enough  sight  better'n  I  do !  "  And  Enos,  putting  on  his 
hat,  pitched  recklessly  over  his  eyes,  and  buttoning  his  coat, 
strode  to  the  door. 

Matilda  simpered  and  sneered ;  seeming  to  say,  "Go,  if 
you  want  to;  but  I  know  well  enough  you  won't  !  "     Mr. 


178  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Crumlett,  a  little  disappointed  that  she  did  not  appear  alarmed, 
gave  her  an  angry  "  Good-by  !  "  and  put  one  foot  across 
the  threshold.  The  door  was  open,  and  every  thing  seemed 
to  favor  his  desperate  resolve.  But  all  at  once  he  stopped, 
and  drew  back  the  foot  he  had  advanced,  recoiling  into  the 
house  with  a  look  of  terror. 

Matilda  was  not  long  in  doubt  as  to  the  occasion  of  this 
sudden  change  of  front.  As  Enos  retreated,  a  dark  figure, 
that  had  crept  noiselessly  to  the  door,  followed  him  in.  Was 
it  Pomp,  returned  to  finish  the  work  he  seemed  to  have  left 
half  done  ?  or  some  spy,  who  had  overheard  Mr.  Crmnlett's 
table-talk  ?  The  figure  was  that  of  a  man,  black  as  any 
negro,  but  of  inferior  stature  to  Pomp,  and  with  a  still  fiercer 
intensity  in  his  aspect,  which  betokened  rather  the  assassin 
than  the  spy. 

"Mr.  Crumlett,"  said  he  in  a  voice  of  command  rather 
than  entreaty,  "  give  me  something  to  eat." 

"  Gracious  goodness  !  "  said  Enos  with  increasmg  amaze- 
ment.    "  EUsmer  !  is  it  you?  " 

The  conscript  —  for  it  was  he  —  smiled  grimly  as  the  fire- 
light shone  upon  his  blackened  face. 

*'  It's  either  me  or  my  ghost !  "  he  answered. 

*'  But  I  see  you  in  the  house,  burnt  up  !  " 

"  The  house  burnt ;  but  I'm  alive  to  do  some  mischief  yet. 
Give  me  somethino: :  I'm  starved." 


"*       POMP    AND     OTHERS.  179 

As  he  reached  forth  to  grasp  the  cheese,  Enos  could  see 
that  not  his  face  only,  but  also  his  hands  and  garments,  were 
covered  as  with  soot. 

"  You  was  hid  in  the  chimney  !  " 

"  No,  I  wasn't !  ' '  with  a  maniacal  smile .  "  I  got  this  black 
off  from  the  timbers.  Don't  ye  tell  no  one  I'm  alive.  I 
can't  starve.  This  will  do  for  to-night.  I'U  call  again  when 
I  want  more." 

With  these  words,  the  conscript,  having  cut  off  a  section 
of  the  cheese  to  match  that  which  Pomp  had  carried  away, 
glided  \wth  it  from  the  house  as  silently  as  he  had  come  in. 


180 


THE    THREE    SCOUTS.   * 


XYIII 


THE   KIDNAPPER'S  PASS. 


OMP  was  by  this  time  in  the  midst  of  the  deep 
woods ;  and  it  was  night.  Events  had  thus  far 
seemed  to  shape  themselves,  and  he  had  merely 
taken  advantage  of  them ;  but  now  it  appeared  necessary  to 
form  some  decisive  plan,  and  act  upon  it  at  once. 

Finding  himself  in  a  dark  hollow,  surrounded  by  a  scat- 
tered undergrowth,  he  halted,  and  tied  the  horses  to  a  sap- 
ling. He  then  reconnoitred  the  position  to  satisfy  himself 
that  he  was  not  discovered.  This  done,  he  returned  to  the 
horses  and  the  bound  man. 

"You're  a  smoker,"  he  observed  in  a  friendly  tone  to 
the  kidnapper ;  "  and  I  suspect  you  have  matches,"  — feehng 
in  Bodson's  pockets.  "  Ah,  here  they  are  !  Very  thoughtful 
in  you,  certainly !  Now  let's  see  what  papers  you  have,  and 
what  use  we  can  make  of  them." 

Having  possessed  himself  of  the  kidnapper's  pocket-book, 
he   proceeded   dehberately   to   examine   its   contents.      He 


THE    KIDNAPPER'S    PASS.  181 

scraped  together  some  dry  leaves,  touched  a  lighted  match  to 
them,  and  laid  on  a  handful  of  broken  twigs.  By  the  flame 
thus  kindled,  he  looked  oyer  Bodson's  private  papers,  until 
—  as  Bodson,  with  uproUed  eyes,  discovered  by  the  smile  of 
triumph  which  seemed  to  illumine  his  sable  countenance  more 
brightly  than  did  the  firelight  —  he  had  found  the  particular 
document  he  was  in  search  of.  It  was  a  pass,  permitting  the 
bearer,  with  his  servant,  to  go  and  come  through  the  Confed- 
erate lines. 

" I  thought  you  had  such  a  pass,"  said  Pomp ;  "for  you 
couldn't  carry  on  your  business  very  well  without  it.  I'll  be 
your  servant,  for  once  ;  and,  if  we  don't  get  through  the  lines 
on  the  strength  of  this  pass,  I'll  give  you  leave  to  discharge 
me.  But  you  can't  ride  in  that  shape  without  attracting  too 
much  attention.  It's  only  servants  that  can  be  treated  in 
that  way,  and  have  it  seem  all  right.  Come,  you  shall  ride 
like  a  gentleman."  He  unbound  the  kidnapper,  and  placed 
him  in  a  sitting  posture  in  the  saddle,  with  the  handcuffs  still 
on  his  wrists,  and  the  gag  ui  his  mouth.  *'  Now  behave  your- 
self, and  all  will  be  well ;  but  attempt  to  escape,  or  to  com- 
municate with  any  person  we  meet,  by  signs  or  in  any  way, 
and  I  drop  this  knife-blade  into  your  back  several  inches. 
That's  the  main  thing  for  you  to  understand  :  I'll  manage  the 


16 


182  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Pomp  was  then  about  to  remove  the  gag ;  but  Bodson's 
face  wore  such  an  expression  of  desperation  and  ferocity,  that 
he  resolved  not  to  run  the  risk. 

"  I  think  well  keep  that  in  a  little  while,  so  that  you  can 
enjoy  the  comfort  of  it !  It  mustn't  be  seen,  though.  Your 
handkerchief  will  just  come  in  play  !  " 

He  bound  the  handkerchief  around  the  kidnapper's 
jaws,  tying  it  behind.  Then  he  placed  his  hat  on  his  head 
in  a  manner  disguising  well  his  eyes.  Lastly  he  removed 
the  handcufis. 

' '  You  see  I  give  you  much  more  liberty  than  you  gave 
me.  If  you  take  advantage  of  it,  so  much  the  worse  for 
yourself.     Now  for  a  start." 

Eemountmo;,  with  the  horses'  heads  tied  too;ether,  he  reined 
boldly  out  of  the  woods,  and  struck  the  turnpike.  He  then 
turned  northwai-d,  and  kept  on  at  a  lively  trot.  It  was  a 
moonlight  evening ;  and  gusts  of  wind,  blowing  among  the 
trees,  made,  to  the  kidnapper's  ear,  a  dreary  accompaniment 
to  the  clatter  of  hoofs  over  the  lonely  road. 

Horsemen,  and  men  in  wagons  or  on  foot,  were  met  here 
and  there ;  but  nobody  paid  much  attention  to  the  solitary 
gentleman,  with  his  face  tied  up,  riding  with  his  servant. 
Fields  were  passed,  white  with  rebel  encampments ;  and  Bod- 
son  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  ofl&cers  and  men  on  guard 


THE    KIDNAPPER'S    PASS.  183 

within  call,  without  the  power  of  making  known  his  situation 
to  them  by  a  word. 

At  length,  a  mounted  patrol  was  met,  and  the  travellers 
were  challenged.  Pomp  halted  the  horses,  and  said  in  Bod- 
son's  ear,  — 

"  One  movement  now  to  betray  me,  and  you  get  this  iron 
into  you!  " 

Prepared  to  accomplish  his  threat,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  wheel,  and  fly  for  his  life,  if  necessary,  he  awaited  the 
scrutiny  of  the  patrol. 

"  My  master  is  Kichard  Bodson,"  said  he,  showing  the 
pass.  "  He  has  been  wounded  in  the  jaw  by  an  accidental 
discharge  of  a  gunshot.  I  am  taking  him  to  his  brother-in- 
law,  Mr.  Atkinson;  "  naming  the  venerable  old  secessionist, 
called  the  "  deacon,"  through  whose  agency  he  had  been  kid- 
napped. 

"What  Atkinson?"  demanded  one  of  the  men;  while 
another  struck  a  light,  and  held  it  for  a  tMrd  to  examine  the 


Pomp  could  answer  any  questions  that  might  be  asked 
concerning  that  aged  reprobate ;  and  he  now  made  good  use 
of  the  knowledge  he  had  picked  up  during  his  brief  stay  on 
his  premises. 

"I  know  him,"  said  one  of  the  men.  "If  this  is  his 
brother-in-law,  I  suppose  it's  all  right." 


184  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  The  pass  is  all  right,"  said  another,  returning  it  to 
Pomp. 

"  Will  the  pickets  let  us  pass  ?  "  asked  Pomp. 

^'  Not  without  the  countersign.  You  ought  to  have  got 
that  at  the  camp  back  here." 

"  My  master,  gentlemen,"  Pomp  explained,  "  ain't  in  a 
condition  to  do  business  'cording  to  rule.  He'll  be  much 
obliged  to  you  if  you'll  give  us  the  countersign." 

"  Couldn't  do  that.  But  I'll  tell  ye  what  you  can  do," 
said  one  of  the  men.  "  Kide  on  till  you're  challenged  by 
the  guard  on  the  pike ;  show  your  pass  then,  and  tell  your 
story;  and  perhaps  the  officer  will  pass  you  through  the 
pickets."  ^^ 

"  Thank  you,  gentlemen,"  said  Pomp,  riding  on. 

Accustomed  as  they  were  to  the  sight  of  wounds  and 
wounded  men,  the  patrol  had  merely  glanced  at  Bodson's 
bandaged  face.  The  negi-o,  greatly  encouraged  by  the  suc- 
cess of  this  experiment  thus  far,  pushed  on  until  challenged 
by  the  outpost  guarding  the  turnpike.  There,  as  he  had 
been  advised  to  do,  he  told  his  story,  and  saw  his  pass 
examined  by  the  light  of  a  lantern.  The  result  was  favor- 
able ;  and  a  sergeant  was  sent  forward  to  pass  him  and  his 
charge  through  the  line  of  sentinels. 

The  order  was  given,  and  Pomp  was  thanking  the  sergeant 


THE    KIDNAPPER' S    PASS.  185 

for  his  trouble,  when  Bodson,  who  had  all  along  watched  in 
vain  for  an  opportunity  to  make  known  his  condition,  without 
drawino-  down  upon  himself  the  negro's  instant  vengeance, 
seeing  now  that  his  last  chance  had  come,  got  the  better  of 
his  fears,  and  attempted  to  leap  from  the  horse.  At  the  firet 
motion,  however,  Pomp's  hand  was  upon  his  neck,  holding 
him  with  a  giant's  grip  in  his  seat. 

"Halt!"  shouted  the  sergeant,  perceiving  at  once  that 
all  was  not  right,  and  revoking  his  order  to  the  sentinels. 

Pomp  had  just  passed  them  ;  and  he  had  no  thought  of 
risking  all  he  had  gained  by  obeying  the  command. 

"  Halt !  "  repeated  the  sentinels  ;  and  he  heard  the  click 
of  gun-locks. 

Instead  of  halting,  he  struck  with  his  heels  the  horse  he 
rode,  and,  with  the  toe  of  his  boot,  the  flank  of  Bodson's 
horse,  cheering  them  into  a  sudden  gallop  by  the  sound  of 
his  voice,  and  plunged  into  the  darkness  beyond  ;  while  the 
bullets  of  the  pickets  whistled  over  his  head. 

Fortunately  he  encountered  no  rebel  videttes  outside  of  the 
line ;  and,  in  less  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  he  was  chal- 
lenged by  the  Federal  picket-guard.  He  gave  himself  up  to 
a  sentinel,  who  conducted  him  to  ttie  office  of  the  guard, 
who  in  turn,  at  his  earnest  request,  forwarded  him  with  his 
prisoner  to  the  office  of  the  army  police  at  Nashville. 
16* 


186  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


XIX. 

A   DANGEROUS  LEAP. 

HE  next  morning,  Fred  was  released  from  con- 
finement in  the  guard-tent,  and  allowed  the 
liberty  of  a  soldier  in  camp.  He  walked  about, 
and  amused  himself  by  observing  how  the  sentinels  were 
posted,  and  imagining  ways  of  escape.  "If  I  am  not  put 
under  guard  again  at  night/'  thought  he,  "I  shall  either  get 
out  of  this  camp,  or  get  shot,  very  sure  !  " 

He  was  destined  to  pass  the  guard  sooner  than  he  sup- 
posed ;  not,  however,  in  the  manner  he  anticipated,  or  pre- 
cisely as  he  would  have  wished.  He  was  summoned  after 
breakfast  to  accompany  a  corporal  who  was  going  to  jNIur- 
freesborough  with  three  invalid  soldiers.  These  were  to  be 
placed  in  the  Murfreesborough  hospital,  while  Fred  was  to 
be  delivered  at  the  conscript  camp. 

The  little  party  was  conveyed  in  a  wagon  to  a  station  on 
the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad,  and  then  placed  on 
board  a  Government  train  from  Lavergne,  almost  before  Fred 


A    DANGEROUS    LEAP.  187 

had  time  to  look  about  him ;  and,  a  minute  latv^r,  he  was  on 
his  way  to  Muifreesborough,  whirled  away  at  thunder-speed 
into  the  very  heart  of  the  Confederacy. 

The  corporal  left  the  sick  soldiers  to  look  out  for  them- 
selves, and  complimented  Fred  with  the  principal  share  of 
his  attention.  He;  sat  on  the  same  seat  with  him  in  the  car ; 
and  would  not,  under  any  pretext,  allow  him  to  leave  it. 

*'  I  wish  to  speak  to  the  conductor,"  said  Fred;  thinking 
that  if  he  could  but  reach  the  platform,  where  the  conductor 
then  was,  he  might  avail  himself  of  the  only  chance  of 
escape  which  had  yet  occurred,  or  which  probably  would 
occur  before  he  reached  the  dreaded  conscript  camp.  It 
would  be  at  the  risk  of  life  and  limb ;  but  he  was  resolved. 
Swiftly  as  the  train  was  flying  past  rocks  and  woods,  he 
would  jump  off! 

"If  the  corporal  will  jump  after  me,  he  is  welcome  !  " 
thought  he. 

But  the  corporal  had  no  wish  either  to  take  a  leap  himself, 
or  to  permit  his  charge  to  try  the  experiment. 

"  Sit  still  !  "  he  said  gruffly;  and,  as  he  had  Fred  be- 
tween him  and  the  window,  it  was  easy  for  him  to  enforce 
obedience.  "  The  conductor  will  be  this  way  in  a  min- 
ute." 

"  No  chance  !  "  thought  Fred,  his  heart  sinking  as  he  saw 
the  conductor  coming  through  the  train. 


188  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

The  corporal  had  a  pass  for  himself,  the  three  mvalids,  and 
Fred.  He  showed  it,  and  pointed  out  his  men ;  saying  at  the 
same  time  to  Fred,  "Now  you  can  ask  any  questions  you 
want." 

"  I  just  wanted  to  inquire,"  said  Fred  (since  it  was  neces- 
sary to  say  something),  "  how  far  it  is  to  Murfreesborough." 

"  We  shall  be  there  in  about  fifteen  minutes,"  said  the 
conductor,  glancing  at  his  watch. 

"  Then  how  far  is  it  to  the  station  beyond  ?  " 

"  To  Christiana,  the  first  regular  station,  ten  miles." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Fred ;  and  the  conductor  passed  on. 

The  brief  fifteen  minutes  soon  elapsed.  The  train  slackened 
speed;  the  brakemen  screwed  up  the  brakes.  "  3Iurfrees- 
borough  !  "  was  shouted  in  at  the  doors.  The  corporal  laid  hold 
of  his  musket;  and  Fred's  heart  swelled  anxiously  as  ho 
thought  of  the  conscript  camp,  now  so  near  at  hand. 

Arrived  at  the  stopping-place,  the  corporal  kept  close  by 
his  side  as  he  conducted  him  from  the  platform  of  the  car  to 
the  platform  of  the  station.  There  Fred  found  a  guard 
placed  to  prevent  all  persons  without  a  pass  from  taking  or 
leaving  the  train. 

"  Keep  this  boy  till  I  call  for  him,"  said  the  corporal  to 
one  of  the  guard.  "  I've  got  to  send  these  sick  men  to  the 
hospital;  then  I'll  come  and  take  him." 


A    DANGEROUS    LEAP.  189 

**  All  rigbt,"  said  the  sentinel. 

The  corporal  walked  off  with  his  men,  leaving  Fred,  unfor- 
tunately, inside  the  guard  line. 

"If  I  was  only  outside  now,"  thought  he,  "I'd  run  for 
it!  "  He  attempted  to  pass;  but  instantly  down  came  a 
bayonet  to  the  level  of  his  waist. 

"Have  you  a  pass?" 

"  The  corporal  has  my  pass." 

"  Wait,  then,  till  he  comes  back." 

There  was  no  other  way  :  the  platform  was  so  guarded, 
that  he  could  not  leave  it  except  by  going  back  into  the  cars ; 
neither  could  he  escape  from  them  on  the  other  side.  All 
this  time,  he  saw  soldiers  and  citizens  coming  aboard  the 
train ;  although  a  few  who  attempted  to  do  so,  unprovided 
with  passes,  were  sent  back  by  the  guard.  The  signal-bell 
was  ringing. 

"  The  tram  will  be  off  again  in  a  minute  !  "  Fred  thought, 
looking  anxiously  for  tie  return  of  his  corporal. 

Rapid  thoughts  passed  through  his  excited  mind.  True, 
the  train  was  headed  in  the  opposite  direction  from  that  in 
which  he  ardently  wished  to  be  travelling ;  but  — 

"  All  aboard !  "  cried  the  conductor,  waving  his  hand  at 
the  engineer. 

It  was  a  time  for  quick,  decisive  action.     Should  Fred  re- 


190  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

main  tamely  where  he  stood,  waiting  for  the  coi-poral  to  return, 
and  hurry  him  off  to  that  place  of  all  places  where  he  most 
dreaded  to  go,  —  the  conscript  camp  ?  Better,  penniless  and 
friendless  as  he  was,  an  escaped  prisoner  and  an  enemy,  rush 
into  obscurity  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy's  country,  and  trust 
to  Providence  for  safety  and  sustenance,  than  be  forced  into 
the  rebel  ranks. 

The  engine  panted  and  wheezed ;  the  train  started  with 
irregular  motion  and  clanking  sound ;  and  the  corporal,  having 
disposed  of  his  invalids,  came  hurrying  back  in  search  of 
Fred.     But  Fred  was  not  to  be  seen. 

•'  Where's  that  boy  ?  "  he  demanded  of  the  guard. 

"Don't  know." 

"  I  told  you  to  keep  him  !  " 

"  We  did.  He  hasn't  passed  out :  all  we  had  to  do  was 
to  see  to  that.     He  was  here  a  minute  ago." 

'*  Then  he's  on  board  the  train  !  "  exclaimed  the  corporal, 
exasperated ;  for  already  the  train  was  steaming  away  in 
the  distance. 

''Outwitted!"  and  the  guard  laughed  at  the  unlucky 
subaltern. 

*'  If  the  train  had  been  going  t'other  way,  I  should  have 
looked  out  for  that !  But  he's  from  the  North ;  wanted  to 
get  back  to  Nashville ;  and  I'd  as  soon  have  thought  of  his 


A    DANGEROUS    LEAP.  191 

going  to  the  moon  as  further  south.  But  I  know  what  I  can 
do.  The  train  don't  stop  till  it  gets  to  Christiana ;  and  I 
can  telegraph,  and  have  him  nabbed  there  !  " 

So  saying,  the  corporal  hurried  away  to  the  telegraph  of- 
fice ;  while  Fred,  from  the  car  window,  watched  the  receding 
suburbs  of  the  rebel  town,  and  congratulated  himself  that  he 
was  out  of  it. 

But  were  his  troubles  ended?  On  the  contrary,  he  felt 
that  they  were  but  just  begun.  Still  he  congratulated  him- 
self; for  even  had  he  passed  the  guard  at  the  platform,  and 
escaped  into  the  streets  of  the  closely  guarded  city,  there  he 
would  have  been  still  a  prisoner,  with  far  less  chance  of  es- 
cape than  he  had  now. 

He  saw  the  conductor  coming  through  the  train,  demanding 
passes  and  tickets.  Fred  had  no  ticket,  and  no  money  to  buy 
one ;  neither  had  he  a  pass.  But  he  had  one  thing  which 
often  serves  in  the  place  of  others,  and  is  especially  useful  to 
an  escaped  prisoner  in  an  enemy's  country,  —  a  shrewd  and 
self-possessed  mind. 

•*  Ticket,  pass  !  "  said  the  conductor,  extending  his  inex- 
orable hand. 

"  The  corporal  has  my  pass,"  said  Fred. 

"  What  corporal?  " 

"  The  same  who  came  down  with  me  to  Murfreesborough 


192  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

We  had  some  sick  soldiers  with  us :  don't  you  remem- 
ber?" 

**  Are  you  the  young  fellow  that  asked  me  some  ques- 
tions?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Fred,  secretly  rejoiced  that  he  had  thus  called 
the  conductor's  attention,  and  caused  himself  to  be  remem- 
bered. 

**  Well,  where  is  your  corporal  ?  " 

*'  He  is  behind,"  —  and  Fred  pointed  towards  the  rear  of 
the  train. 

"  All  right,"  said  the  conductor,  passing  on. 

He  passed  through  to  the  end  of  the  train  without  finding 
the  subaltern,  who  was  farther  behind  than  that,  a  gi-eat  deal. 

**  Your  corporal  isn't  aboard,"  said  he,  retummg  to  Fred. 

"Isn't!"  exclaimed  Fred  in  great  surprise.  "Where 
is  he?" 

"  You  ought  to  know." 

*'  I !  He  told  me  to  stay  with  the  train  while  he  went  to 
take  cai-e  of  the  sick  men !  He  said  that  he  would  come 
back  to  me  ;  and  I  saw  him  coming  back  just  as  we  started." 

*'  Did  you  see  him  come  aboard?  " 

"  No  :  but  he  might  have  jumped  on  to  the  last  car  ;  and 
I  don't  see  why  he  didn't."  And  Fred  appeared  hugely 
disappointed.  "  He's  got  my  pass,  and  I  don't  know  what  I 
shaU  do ! '' 


A    DANGEROUS    LEAP.  193 

"  You  can  go  back  to  Murfreesborough." 

"  Yes,  so  I  can !  "  But  Fred  had  no  wisb  to  return  to 
INIurfreesborough,  and  become  inextricably  entrapped  within  its 
network  of  picket-guards,  even  if  not  caught  at  once  by  the 
corporal. 

The  conductor  passed  on,  leaving  him  to  his  reflections. 
"  He'll  certainly  send  me  back  to  Murfreesborough  by  the  first 
train,"  he  thought.  "  He  said  it  was  ten  miles  to  Christiana. 
I  don't  want  to  go  to  Christiana,  If  the  station  is  guarded 
there  too,  there'll  be  no  chance  for  a  fellow.  Besides,  a  tel- 
egraphic despatch  may  be  sent  along  to  head  me  oflf." 

As  a  last- resort,  he  determined  to  jump  from  the  train ;  but 
it  was  going  at  full  speed,  and  he  was  in  no  haste  to  try  the 
dangerous  experiment.  He  wished  some  cattle  would  get  on 
the  track;  but  then  he  reflected  that  stray  cattle,  in  such 
close  proximity  to  the  rebel  army,  must  be  very  scarce.  He 
almost  hoped  there  would  be  a  railroad  accident ;  but  railroad 
accidents  do  not  happen  every  day.  All  this  time,  the  cars 
were  running  through  a  picturesque  region,  which,  troubled  as 
his  thoughts  were,  he  could  not  but  admire. 

At  length,  he  behoved  he  must  be  within  two  or  three  miles 
of  Christiana.     There  was  now  no  surly  guard  to  keep  hun 
in  his  seat.     The  conductor  was  out  of  sight.     The  brake- 
men  did  not  consider  it  their  business  to  prevent  passengers 
17 


194  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

from  breaking  their  necks.  Fred  walked  at  a  careless  gait 
through  the  car,  and  stood  upon  the  platform.  The  traui  was 
stni  running  at  its  usual  speed,  and  trees,  bushes,  rocks,  and 
stumps  were  flitting  by.  But,  seeing  no  evidence  of  slacking 
up  before  the  stopping-place  was  reached,  he  resolved  to  risk 
a  leap. 

He  considered  weU  what  he  was  about  to  do,  however,  and 
used  every  possible  precaution.  He  got  down  on  the  plat- 
form-step, and  pretended  to  be  looking  ahead.  He  was,  in 
fact,  seai'ching  for  a  smooth  spot.  Then  suddenly  he  threw 
himself  clear  of  the  cai\  He  had  kept  his  face  turned  in  the 
direction  it  was  going,  in  order  to  save  himself  from  a  violent 
fall  by  running  a  few  steps  as  he  struck  the  ground  ;  and,  to 
counteract  the  motion  of  the  train,  he  gave  a  spring  back- 
wards. For  a  second,  he  was  suspended  in  the  air ;  then  the 
train  shot  past  him  as  he  lay  sprawling  by  the  track. 


ACQUAINTANCE    WITH  A    LASSO,  195 


XX. 

FRED  MAKES  ACQUAINT  AN  GE   WITH 
A  LASSO. 

HE  boy  was  on  his  feet  again  in  an  instant. 
He  did  not  stop  to  consider  whether  he  was 
hurt,  or  even  to  see  if  he  was  observed  from 
the  train,  but  ran  straight  for  a  woody  hill. 

Beaching  its  shelter,  he  paused  to  take  breath,  and  col- 
lect his  senses,  which  had  been  somewhat  scattered  by  the 
shock  of  his  fall. 

"I  dare  not  stay  here,"  he  thought;  *' and  it  won't  be 
safe  to  follow  the  railroad  back  again.  I'll  dive  deep  into 
the  country,  where  nobody'll  think  of  looking  for  me.  To 
go  north,  I'll  start  west,  —  make  a  flank  movement.  I've 
hiu't  my  foot  a  little;   but  no  matter !  " 

He  passed  over  the  hill,  and  came  to  a  dusty  turnpike. 
"  This  must  be  the  Murfi-eesborough  pike,"  he  thought :  '  I'll 
cross  it."  He  did  so,  without  being  accosted  by  an}  one, 
and  entered  the  woods  still  farther  west. 


196  THE    THREE, SCOUTS 

Through  woods,  over  hills,  and  across  fields,  in  a  beauti- 
ful undulating  country,  avoiding  farm-houses  and  the  sight 
of  men,  he  travelled  for  two  hours  or  more.  At  lenorth, 
from  a  commanding  elevation,  he  discovered  the  white  line 
of  another  thoroughfare  running  north  and  south.  "  That 
must  be  the  Shelbyville  pike,"  he  reasoned.  "I'd  better 
strike  it,  and  follow  it  back  to  Nolensville.  That  can't  be 
more  than  twenty  miles  from  here.  I  can  sleep  in  the  woods 
to-night,  and  reach  Crumlett's  to-morrow." 

He  had  no  wish  to  pay  Enos  a  visit,  except  for  the  pur- 
pose of  getting  something  to  eat,  and  learning  what  had 
become  of  Pomp.  He  did  not  object  to  sleeping  in  the 
woods;  but  starvation  was  not  so  pleasant.  Already  he 
began  to  experience  the  inconveniences  of  hunger.  If  he 
bad  had  money,  he  would  have  gone  boldly  to  a  farm-house, 
and  asked  for  refreshment.  Notwithstanding  all  that  he 
had  heard  said  of  Southern  hospitality,  he  was  aware  that 
Southern  farmers  were  in  the  habit  of  receiving  pay  fi-om 
strangers  who  sat  at  their  tables ;  and  he  was  unwilling  to 
beg  so  much  as  a  crust.  There's  nothing  so  suspicious  as 
poverty ;  and,  unless  he  could  first  find  out  the  residence  of 
a  Union  man,  he  felt  that  it  would  be  unsafe  to  make  his 
necessities  known. 

A  long  journey,  therefore,  with  weariness  and  starvation, 


ACQUAINTANCE     WITH   A    LASSO.  197 

appeared  before  him;  to  say  nothing  of  all  the  clangers  that 
must  be  encountered.  *' Never  mind,"  he  said  stoutly  to 
himsolf :  "  I  can  stand  it !  "  One  thing,  however,  troubled 
hiin,  —  his  ankle.  He  knew  he  had  sprained  it  in  jumping 
from  the  train.  He  had  scarcely  observed  the  pain  at  first ; 
but  it  increased  alarmingly  as  he  walked. 

He  reached  the  turnpike ;  but  had  scarcely  commenced 
travelling  upon  it,  when  he  was  refreshed  by  the  sight  of  a 
squad  of  cavalry.  The  chance  of  being  pressed  into  the 
rebel  service,  or  of  being  aiTCsted  as  an  escaped  prisoner, 
was  not  invitmg.  He  could  give  no  satisfactory  account  of 
hhnself,  if  stopped  and  questioned ;  and  he  did  not  like  to  re- 
sort to  invention,  even  with  an  enemy.  He  had  just  time  to 
throw  himself  down  behind  a  clump  of  trees,  when  the  horse- 
men galloped  past  him.  Fortunately,  he  was  not  seen.  But 
he  was  strongly  impressed  with  the  danger  of  keeping  the 
turnpike ;  and  he  began  to  thmk  that  he  had  made  a  great 
mistake  when  he  exchanged  the  hardships  of  the  untrodden 
woods  and  Mils  for  the  smooth  but  unsafe  highway. 

He  lay  for  some  minutes  behind  the  bushes,  watching  the 
people  and  teams  that  passed.  But  he  felt  that  he  had  no 
time  to  lose;  and,  getting  up,  he  once  more  set  out  to  walk. 
To  his  dismay,  he  found  the  lameness  of  his  ankle  worse 
than  ever.  If  it  should  increase  during  the  hour  to  come 
17* 


198  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

as  it  had  dui-ing  the  hour  past,  he  would  be  unable  to  walk. 
The  thought  was  appalling. 

He  fortified  his  soul  against  the  pain,  however,  and  limped 
away,  grimacing  at  every  step ;  but  soon  found  hunself 
obliged  to  sit  down  again.  The  prospect  before  him  was 
more  dismal  than  it  had  yet  been  at  any  time  since  his 
capture.  As  long  as  he  had  the  use  of  his  limbs,  he  had 
hopes ;  he  shrank  from  no  hazard,  from  no  hardship :  his 
brain  teemed  with  plans  of  escape.  But  the  worst  prison 
he  could  be  put  into  was  his  own  lameness.  He  could  run 
from  the  rebels ;  but  he  could  not  run  from  a  disabled  foot. 
He  thought  of  the  weary,  weary  miles  before  him ;  only 
enemies  around  him ;  starvation  in  prospect ;  not  a  cent  in 
his  pockets ;  himself  a  stranger  to  the  country ;  and,  what 
was  worst  of  all,  a  cripple.     WHat  should  he  do  ? 

Do  you  wonder  that  he  was,  for  a  moment,  discoui'aged  ? 
But  something  within  him  said,  "  Have  faith ;  be  brave ; 
shrink  from  nothing  :  a  way  will  yet  be  provided  for  your 
safety."  And  in  his  heart  he  resolved,  "I'll  do  my  best, 
and  never  give  up  till  the  last.  I'll  pick  me  up  some 
crutches  in  the  woods,  and  hobble.  I'll  live  on  air,  water, 
roots,  and  my  own  spunk ;  and  I'll  go  back  to  oui-  lines,  if 
I  have  to  crawl !  " 

He  was  startled  from  his  reflections  by  the  sight  of  two  per- 


ACQUAINTANCE     WITH   A    LASSO,  199 

sons,  mounted,  riding  towards  liim.  The  savage  aspect  of  the 
foremost  drew  his  entire  attention.  His  hair  was  long,  his 
beard  bushy,  aild  his  whole  appearance  rough  and  shaggy  in 
tlie  extreme.  He  wore  a  broad,  slouched  hat :  he  was  armed 
with  a  carbine,  and  carried  a  curious  coil  of  rope  at  his  sad- 
dle-bow. Perceiving  Fred  trying  to  limp  out  of  the  way,  he 
spurred  towards  hun  like  a  wild  man  on  horseback,  and  with 
a  swift,  dexterous  motion  of  his  right  hand,  throwing  his 
whole  body  forward  to  second  it,  he  loosed  the  coil  of  rope. 
It  shot  out  like  a  streak  of  untwisted  lightning  from  the 
saddle  ;  and,  what  was  very  remarkable,  a  noose  at  the  end  of 
it  fell,  neatly  as  possible,  over  Fred's  neck.  The  man  was 
a  Texan  ranger,  half  drunk;  and  he"  had  lassoed  the  boy 
for  fun. 

Something  far  more  serious  than  fan^  Jiowever,  might 
have  been  the  result,  if  the  ranger  had  not  suddenly 
reined  up  his  horse ;  or  if  Fred  had  not  seized  hold  of  the 
rope  with  his  hands,  just  as  the  noose  was  tightening. 

The  Texan  burst  into  peals  of  laughter,  and  reeled  in  his 
saddle,  partly  with  merriment,  and  partly  with  intoxication. 
Fred  took  advantage  of  his  unsteady  movements  to  slip  the 
noose  over  his  head.  By  this  time  the  ranger's  companion 
came  riding  up,  thwacking  his  beast's  sides  with  a  stout 
stick.     That  beast  was  a  mule ;  and  Fred,  released  from  the 


200  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

lasso,  and  looking  up,  recognized  with  surprise  and  joy  the 
rider.     It  was  Carl. 

Carl  did  not,  however,  appear  to  recognize  Fred. 

"  Yat  for  you  throw  your  lash-you  at  him  ?  You  preak 
somepody's  neck  vith  your  fooling,  py  and  py  !  " 

"  No  offence,  no  offence  !  "  cried  the  ranger,  replacing 
the  coil  at  his  saddle-bow.  "  All  a  joke,  you  understand, 
my  friend,"  he  added  thickly,  offering  to  shake  hands  with 
Fred. 

Fred  felt  an  impulse  to  pull  him  from  the  saddle,  disarm 
him,  and  take  possession  of  his  horse.  But  the  man  was 
not  drunk  enough  to  render  this  an  easy  undertaking :  be- 
sides, the  tune  and  place  were  unfit. 

"I've  a  broken  ankle  already;  and  you  came  very  near 
giving  me  a  broken  neck  !  "  said  Fred,  as  good-naturedly  as 
was  possible  under  the  circumstances. 

"Boy,  you're  a  brick!"  said  the  ranger,  shaking  his 
hand  again  with  maudlin  enthusiasm.  "  I  like  a  chap  that 
can  take  a  joke  !     Is  any  thing  I  can  do  for  you  ?  " 

"Nothing  in  the  world,"  replied  Fred,  anxious  only  to 
get  rid  of  him. 

"  Look !  "  cried  Carl,  perceiving  the  wish,  and  sympathiz- 
ing in  it,  "  yonder  is  sport,  old  fellow  !  " 

He  pointed  to  a  dog  trotting  along  the  roadside  in  the  dis- 


ACQUAINTANCE     WITH   A    LASSO.  201 

tance;  at  sight  of  wliich  the  Texan  steadied  himself  once 
more  in  his  saddle,  and  spurred  towards  it  eagerly.  Carl 
laughed  heartily. 

"He  has  lashoed  every  dog  we  have  met  these  last  six 
miles  !  But  it  is  queer  to  see  you.  You  vas  vith  Pomp  ! 
Vair  is  Pomp  ?     And  how  does  it  come  you  are  here  ?  " 

The  Texan,  tipsy  as  he  was,  lassoed  the  dog  with  great 
skill,  and  dragged  him,  struggling  and  howling,  at  the  heels 
of  his  horse  ;  until,  fortunately  for  the  poor  quadruped,  the 
rope  slipped  over  his  ears,  and  he  ran  away,  with  his  tail 
betwixt  his  legs  brushing  the  dirt.  The  owner  of  the  dog 
jumped  from  his  wagon,  and  confronted  the  ranger  with  rage 
and  oaths,  until  he  discovered  active  preparations  makiQg  to 
lasso  him  next,  when  he  discreetly  returned  to  his  wagon. 

Fred,  in  the  mean  while,  related  briefly  his  adventures, 
and  demanded,  in  return,  how  Carl  had  picked  up  so  terrible 
a  companion. 

"  I  didn't  pick  up  him  :  he  picked  me  up,"  said  Carl. 
"  I  vill  tell  you  how.  I  vas  riding  my  mule-peast  like  a 
shentleman,  ven  he  comes  shrieking  after  me,  and  lashoes  my 
mule-peast  as  if  he  vas  a  vild  horse  of  the  prairies." 

**  With  you  on  him?  " 

"  I  vas  on  him  :  yes.  And  ven  I  see  vat  vas  the  choke  " 
(Carl  meant  to  say  joke),   "  I  just  sits  pack,  and  voids  my 


202  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

arms,  and  have  vun  goot  laugh.  But  the  mule-peast  vas  not 
wcry  much  pleased  to  pe  lashoed  :  it  vas  a  choke  he  did  not 
like.  So  he  just  settles  pack  on  his  hind-legs,  and  pulls  vun 
vay,  vile  the  horse  pulls  another.  So  I  laughs  more  yet  to 
see  vieh  vould  p^at.  The  horse  peat,  and  muley  vas  dragged 
after  him  like  a  vooden  plough  vith  four  feet.  He  vouldn't 
valk,  and  so  he  sHd.  And  I  kept  on  to  say,  '  Wery  goot, 
wery  goot !  you  give  me  much  help  ! '  till  py  and  py  the  wil- 
lain  he  shtops.  It  vas  time ;  for  he  had  wery  nigh  joked  my 
muley  to  death.  I  say,  '  Much  opliged  to  you,  sir.'  He  say, 
'  Vat  for  ? '  —  '  For  making  my  peast  move  fcr  vunce  in  his 
life  against  his  vill,'  I  say.  '  He  is  a  wishous peast,  audit  is 
goot  for  him  ! '  Then  he  says  to  me,  vat  he  says  after  to  you, 
*  that  I  vas  vun  brick,'  and  shakes  my  hand  to  conwince  me 
he  is  my  friend.  Then  ve  travel  together  :  but  I  travel  too 
slow  for  him ;  and  he  takes  up  the  time  lashoing  dogs,  till  py 
andpy  he  lashoes  you." 

"  I  wish  I  had  his  horse,"  said  Fred  enviously;  "for  I 
shall  soon  be  unable  to  step  on  my  lame  foot." 

"  I  vish  I  vas  going  your  vay,"  said  Carl.  "  But  I  must 
go  to  Shelbywille  first.  And  now  I  vill  tell  you  :  you  shall 
go  to  Shelbywille  too." 

"  I !  "  exclaimed  Fred.  "I  am  fai'  enough  in  the  wi'ono: 
direction  already  !  " 


ACQUAINTANCE     WITH   A    LASSO.  203 

"  But  sometiraos  doctors  give  sick  men  medicines  to  make 
'em  more  sicker  before  they  get  veil.  If  you  are  far  in 
the  wrong  vay,  go  a  little  more  so,  and  that  vill  help  to  make 
you  in  the  right  vay.  You  shall  turn  peddler  like  me,  and 
pass  easy." 

"  But  my  lame  foot  !  " 

"  That  is  the  wery  thing  :  you  shall  ride.  Get  right  up 
here  behind  me,  and  ve  vill  punish  muley ;  for  he  is  so  wicious  ! 
If  he  vill  not  carry  vun  decent,  he  shall  see  how  he  likes  to 
carry  touble." 

Fred  was  very  much  averse  to  becoming  thus  a  burden  to 
Carl ;  but  Carl  insisted :  and,  indeed,  this  seemed  the  only 
thing  that  he  could  do.  Accordingly,  he  mounted  behind 
Carl.  But  no  sooner  had  he  done  so  than  the  vicious  nature 
of  the  anunal  showed  how  it  resented  such  punishment,  —  by 
refusing  to  budge  an  inch  with  the  additional  load.  Carl  be- 
gan to  beat  him ;  and  he  began  to  kick  up  his  heels  in  a 
manner  that  threatened  to  throw  both  riders  together  over  his 
head.  At  this  juncture  approached  the  Texan.  Seeing  the 
condition  of  affairs,  he  generously  proffered  his  assistance. 
Should  he  cast  his  lasso  once  more  over  the  mule's  neck,  and 
drag  him  on  towards  Shelbyville  with  his  double  burden,  or 
take  Fred  behind  him  on  his  own  beast  ? 

The  latler  proposition  was  chosen  by  the  boys  ;    and  Fred, 


204  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

mounting  behind  the  ranger,  wondering  at  the  strange  combi- 
nation of  circumstances  which  had  placed  him  in  such  an  odd 
situation,  pursued  his  journey  still  farther  into  the  heart  of 
the  Confederacy. 

At  CaiTael  they  stopped  to  dine ;  and  there  was  a  friendly 
strife  between  Cai-l  and  the  Texan  —  who,  though  a  "  rough  " 
of  the  roughest  sort,  enlisted  in  a  bad  cause,  was  a  most  gen- 
erous fellow —  as  to  who  should  pay  the  tavern-bill.  Thus 
Fred,  who  but  a  little  while  before  knew  not  where  he  should 
obtain  a  crust  to  keep  him  from  starvation,  enjoyed  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  two  companions,  money  in  hand,  struggling 
to  pay  for  his  dinner. 

The  ranger  drank  sufficient  whiskey  at  Caimel  to  keep 
himself  in  a  condition  of  tipsy  merriment.  His  mania  for 
throwing  the  lasso  continued  unabated  ;  and  Fred,  mounted 
behind  him  once  more  on  the  way  to  Shelbyville,  had  a  fine 
opportunity  of  witnessing  the  j^ractico  of  that  art.  Every 
dog,  every  stray  pig.  they  fell  in  with  on  the  journey,  had  a 
taste  of  the  lasso.  The  Texan  even  propo3ed  to  teach  the 
art  to  Fred,  and  swore  that  he  should  try  his  luck  on  the 
next  pig.  Before  another  pig  was  seen,  however,  they  were 
stopped  by  the  turnpike  guard  at  Shelbyville. 

The  Texan  showed  his  farlough.  Carl  explained  that  he 
and  Fred  were  visiting  the  place  on  business  ;  and  they  were 
permitted  to  enter  the  town. 


ACQUAINTANCE     WITH   A    LASSO.  205 

Carl's  first  precaution  was  to  inquire  out  the  whereabouts 
of  Joseph's  brother.  He  found  him  —  a  little  man  with  a 
prominent  face,  nearly  all  nose  — in  a  little,  low,  dark  variety- 
store,  on  the  main  street ;  and,  making  known  his  errand,  was 
welcomed  by  him  with  eager  cordiality. 

Fred  waited  with  the  Texan  at  the  door  while  Carl  went 
in.  "He  is  provided  for,"  he  thought ;  "  but  what  is  to  be- 
come of  me  V  "  In  a  little  while  Carl  came  out  again,  smiling, 
accompanied  by  his  new  friend,  with  whom  he  was  convers- 
ing in  German. 

**  I  shall  shtop  here,"  he  said  to  Fred.  "  But  since  you 
have  got  lame,  and  vill  not  be  much  use  to  me  peddUng,  you 
had  petter  go  to  the  tavern,  and  shtay." 

This  proposal,  however,  the  Texan  vetoed  with  a  tremen- 
dous oath.  He  was  going  over  the  river  to  visit  some  friends 
in  a  regiment  encamped  there ;  and  he  swore,  that,  if  Fred 
would  go  with  him,  he  should  be  treated  like  a  brother. 
There  was  to  Fred  something  romantic  in  the  idea  of  his  be- 
coming, not  only  a  comrade  of  a  genial  rebel,  but  actually  a 
guest  in  the  camp  of  a  rebel  regiment.  He  saw  that  Carl, 
whose  real  business  it  was  to  learn  the  numbers  and  positions 
of  the  rebel  forces,  favored  the  plan  ;  and  he  accepted  it  ac- 
cordingly. And  there  the  friends  parted  :  Carl  remained 
with  the  Jew;  but  Fred,  still  riding  behind  the  ranger, 
crossed  Duck  River,  and  entered  the  rebel  encampment- 

18 


206  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

K  Fred  had  been  astonished  and  entertained  by  his  Texan 
friend,  what  must  have  been  his  emotions  on  making  the 
acquaintance  of  half  a  regiment  of  such  !  True,  they  were 
not  all  drunk ;  yet  many  of  them  had  evidently  tasted 
whiskey.  Neither  did  Fred  see,  among  them  all,  more  than 
two  or  three  lassoes.  They  treated  him  with  boisterous  hos- 
pitality, and  in  their  company  he  soon  found  himself  at 
home. 

His  lameness  did  not  allow  him  to  move  about  much  that 
evening.  But  the  next  morning,  provided  with  a  crutch  by 
his  new  friends,  he  hobbled  around  the  camp.  In  the  after- 
noon, Carl  came  over  to  visit  him ;  and  guided  by  their  origi- 
nal Texan  friend,  who  furnished  them  with  horses  borrowed 
of  his  comrades,  they  made  the  tour  of  the  encampments  on 
that  bank  of  the  river.  An  entne  division  of  the  rebel  army 
was  there,  besides  the  rangers ;  and  you  may  be  sure  the 
boys  kept  both  eyes  and  ears  open  to  all  that  was  to  be  seen 
and  heard. 

The  ranger,  having  transacted  the  business  which  had 
brought  huu  to  Shelbyville,  was  to  return  the  next  day  to 
rejoin  his  company,  which  had  been  detached  upon  some  ser- 
vice at  the  rebel  front.  Carl  and  Fred  resolved  to  accom- 
pany him. 

*'  I  have  had  vonderful  goot  success  I  "  Carl  whispered  in 


ACQUAINTANCE     WITH   A    LASSO.  207 

his  friend's  ear.  '*  I  have  disposed  of  my  shtock  for  wery 
handsome  profits  to  the  Chew ;  and  he  has  promised  to  have 
us  passes  to  return^  and  go  vair  ve  please ;  and  he  says  the 
letters  I  prought  is  wery  acceptable,  and  vill  do  much  goot, 
pesides  making  for  us  friends  of  the  rebel  ofi&cers.  Pesides, 
I  have  learned  all  about  the  forces  on  both  sides  of  the  river  ; 
and  now,  the  sooner  ve  get  off,  the  petter.  I  have  traded 
my  mule-peast  for  a  horse  varranted  to  carry  touble  :  so  ve 
can  both  ride." 

The  next  day,  accordingly,  they  set  out  on  their  return, 
and  aiTived  late  in  the  afternoon  at  a  small  public-house  on 
the  Murfreesborough  pike,  just  outside  of  the  rebel  pickets. 
Fred  had  no  wish  to  proceed  further  in  that  direction  :  so  he 
remained  at  the  tavern,  while  Carl  and  the  Texan  passed  the 
guard  and  entered  the  city. 

Carl  had  promised  to  return  for  him  after  transacting  his 
business  in  Murfreesborough.  They  had  but  one  pass  for 
both,  and  that  Carl  carried  with  him.  It  was  a  dangerous 
mission  on  which  Carl  had  gone ;  his  object  being  to  do  at 
Murfreesborough  what  he  had  already  done  at  Shelbyville : 
and,  should  any  thing  happen  to  him,  what  would  become  of 
his  companion?  Unfortunately,  neither  of  them  knew  the 
real  danger  which  he  was  destined  to  encounter. 

It  was  not  until  the  evening  of  the  following  day  that  Fred 


208  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

began  to  grow  really  anxious.  Carl  had  not  been  heard 
from.  The  next  day,  he  still  remained  absent.  Another 
mornino-  came,  and  another  nio-ht,  but  broup;ht  no  tidino;s. 

Then  Fred  became  seriously  alarmed.  The  little  money 
Carl  had  given  him  was  all  spent.  Again  he  was  penniless ; 
he  had  no  pass;  he  was  without  a  friend  ;  he  was  still  lame  ; 
and  he  was  aware  that  he  was  surrounded  by  camps  of  the 
rebel  army.  Well  might  these  circumstances  render  him 
sleepless  and  feverish ;  nor  would  his  mind  have  been  at  all 
set  at  rest  had  he  been  informed  of  the  fact,  that  Carl  had 
been  arrested  as  a  spy,  and  was  awaiting  his  fate  in  a  rebel 
prison. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  news  reached  Fred  of  his 
friend's  captivity.     It  happened  in  the  following  manner. 


A    TALK    IN    THE    DARK.  209 


XXL 

A    TALK  IN  THE  DARK, 

HE  boy's  lameness  afforded  him  a  good  excuse 
for  keeping  his  wretched  room  at  the  tavern ; 
and  he  saw  only  a  few  scattering  guests  at  the 
table,  to  which  he  always  contrived  to  come  late. 

That  evening,  however,  just  at  dusk,  while  he  was  sitting 
by  his  solitary  window,  holdmg  his  lame  foot,  wondering  if  it 
would  ever  get  well,  and  if  Carl  would  ever  come  back,  a 
stranger  was  shown  in. 

♦'  Well,  my  friend,"  said  he,  "  it  seems  we're  to  share  this 
little  pigeon-hole  together." 

'*  You  are  very  welcome,  sn,"  said  Fred  ;  '*  and  I  should 
be  dehghted  to  give  you  the  whole  of  it,  if  I  could." 

"  You  are  anxious  to  get  away,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes  :  do  you  come  from  Murfreesborough  ?  " 

"  I  was  there  lately." 

"  Then,"  said  Fred,  "  may  be  you  can  tell  me  somethmg 

of  what  I  wish  to  know."     And  he  related  as  much  as  he 
18* 


210  TEE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

deemed  prudent  of  his   connection  with    Cai'l;   concerning 
whom,  in  conclusion,  he  eagerly  questioned  the  stranger. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  said  the  latter,  seating  himself  on  the  bed,  — 
for  there  was  but  one  chair  in  the  miserable  room,  —  "  that 
your  fellow-peddler  has  got  into  difficulty." 

"  How  so  ?  "  Fred  asked  breathlessly. 

*'  Such  a  boy  as  you  describe  came  into  the  city  about  the 
time  you  say  he  left  you.  He  had  a  letter  of  introduction  to 
a  Geiman  engaged  in  smuggling  contraband  goods,  who  is 
tolerated  by  the  authorities  because  he  has  really  done 
them  some  service  by  getting  letters  and  important  informa- 
tion through  the  Union  lines.  Well,  two  days  ago,  he 
brought  the  boy  you  speak  of  to  Greneral  Bragg's  head- 
quarters. I  happened  to  have  busuiess  with  one  of  the  gen- 
eral's staff,  and  was  present  at  the  interview.  Your  brother 
peddler  was  questioned,  both  by  the  general  and  his  chief  of 
staff,  with  regard  to  affairs  at  Nashville  ;  and  it  was  remarked 
by  all,  that  his  answers,  boy  as  he  was,  were  wonderfully 
shrewd  and  intelligent ;  though  it  was  afterwards  remem- 
bered that  he  gave  little  information  of  real  importance  to 
anybody.  The  jDrobability  is  that  he  had  been  told  just  what 
to  say,  and  not  to  say,  by  those  who  sent  him." 

"  \\1io  sent  him?"  demanded  Fred,  his  fears  for  his 
friend  almost  betraying  him. 


A     TALK    JN    THE    DARK.  211 

"  The  managers  of  Rosecrans's  police  and  spy  system,  it  is 
supposed.  For  there  is  not  much  doubt,  my  friend,"  added 
the  stranger,  coolly  lighting  a  cigar,  "  but  that  your  friend  is 
a  spy." 

"But  why  —  how  —  what  reason  have  they  to  think 
so  ?  " 

"I'll  tell  you"  (smoking).  "While  the  boy  was  at 
headquarters,  the  guai'd  outside  was  changed  "  (puff,  puff)  ; 
"  and,  when  he  went  out,  there  happened  to  be  on  duty  a 
man  who  knew  him"  (another  puff :  it  seemed  that  the 
stranger  would  have  smoked,  had  Fred's  life  depended  on 
the  next  word),  —  "  a  soldier  belonging  to  Colonel  Derring's 
East  Tennessee  regiment,  of  the  name  of  Pepperill.  It 
seems  that  he  and  the  boy  are  old  acquaintances ;  and  he 
was  so  glad  to  see  him,  that  he  never  considered  that  calling 
him  by  name  at  such  a  time  was  equivalent  to  pronouncing 
his  death-sentence." 

"  How  so  ?     I  don't  understand." 

**  Don't  you?  Well,  I'll  tell  you.  Your  friend  once 
joined  the  same  regiment  this  man  Pepperill  belongs  to  ; 
but  during  the  Union  troubles  in  East  Tennessee,  and  the 
fighting  at  the  Cave  there,  he  deserted,  joined  the  refugees, 
and  escaped  with  them  over  the  mountains.  Of  course,  he 
pretended  not  to  recognize  Pepperill;  and  Pepperill,  seeing 


212  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

what  a  blunder  he  had  committed,  immediately  began  to  dis- 
claim his  acquaintance.  But,  by  this  time,  the  attention  of 
another  soldier  was  attracted,  who  declared  that  your  peddler 
friend  was  a  deserter  from  the  regiment,  and  that  his  name 
was  the  same  Pepperill  had  called  him  by,  —  Cai'l  Minne- 
vich.  Still  the  boy  might  have  got  off;  but,  just  then,  up 
rides  Colonel  Derring  himself,  who  orders  him  arrested. 
So  your  unfortunate  friend  is  now  under  guard,  awaiting  his 
trial  on  a  double  charge,  —  of  being  a  deserter  and  a  spy." 

So  saying,  the  stranger  smoked  away  complacently,  while 
Fred's  thoughts  were  whirling  in  a  vortex  of  pain  and  fear. 

"  What  will  they  do  with  him?  "  he  asked,  as  soon  as  he 
could  trust  his  voice. 

"  Hang  him  I  "  The  stranger  quietly  knocked  the  ashes 
from  his  cigar.  "  Nor  is  that  all,"  he  added,  with  another 
whiff.  "  His  pass  was  for  two  boys,  instead  of  one.  The 
other  must  have  been  his  accomj^hce,  so  the  authorities  rea- 
soned ;  and  they  have  ordered  search  to  be  made  for  him 
too." 

"  And  what  will  they  do  whh  him?  "  demanded  Fred,  his 
courage  and  spirits  returning,  now  that  he  saw  his  own  life  in 
peril. 

' '  Hung  him  too  !  "  replied  the  stranger.  He  laid  his  hand 
impressively  on  Fred's  shoulder.     "  Now,  my  friend,  you  are 


A     TALK    IN    THE    DARK.  213 

confessedly  this  boy's  accomplice.  And  do  you  know  who  I 
am?" 

"  An  officer  sent  to  arrest  me  !  "  exclaimed  Fred,  spring- 
ing to  his  feet,  and  grasping  the  chair  with  the  instinct  of  self- 
defence. 

"  On  the  contraiy,"  quietly  returned  the  stranger,  striking 
another  match,  —  for  his  cigar  had  gone  out,  —  "I  have 
come  to  save  you.     Haven't  you  recognized  me  yet?  " 

His  voice  changed,  as  he  spoke,  to  a  tone  strangely  famil- 
iar to  Fred's  ear.  At  the  same  time,  the  flame  of  the  match 
lighted  up  his  bronzed,  bearded,  resolute,  calm  face.  With 
a  thrill  of  joy,  Fred  put  down  the  chair,  and  started  towards 
him. 

*'  Daniels  !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  That  is  my  name ;  but  you  should  never  speak  the 
name  of  a  friend  so  loud,  if  at  all,  under  such  circumstances. 
Your  friend  Carl  has  lost  his  Hfe,  probably,  through  a  similar 
indiscretion  on  the  part  of  that  stupid  wretch,  Dan  Pepperill. 
Let  me  advise  you,  moreover,  to  keep  quiet,  and  sit  down. 
You  are  standing  too  long  on  that  lame  leg  of  yours.  Let 
us  talk  a  little  quietly.  Nothing  is  to  be  gained  by  heat  and 
hurry.     Remember  that." 

Daniels  spoke  in  the  tone  of  a  man  conversing  on  an  ordi- 
nary topic  of  business. 


214  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Fred,  agitated  by  conflicting  emotions,  knew  not  what  to 
say.  His  fii*st  question  was.  about  Carl:  "Was  there  any 
hope  of  his  rescue?  " 

"  Very,  very  little  :  it  is  a  pity.  He  is  a  bright  boy :  I 
like  bright  boys!"  Daniels  turned  his  eyes  upon  Fred, 
with  a  look  which  seemed  to  reach  his  soul,  even  in  the  dark- 
ness of  the  room ;  and  his  voice,  usually  low  and  imperturba- 
ble as  it  was,  had  something  like  a  thriU  of  tenderness  in  it. 
"I  have  taken  an  unaccountable  liking  to  you:  do  you 
know  it  ?  I  have  been  looking  for  you  ever  since  you  were 
carried  off  by  Glruffley's  men  to  be  conscripted." 

"  I  know  :  I  met  you  riding  down  the  pike  that  very  day. 
But  how  —  how  did  you  ever  find  me  ?  " 

*'  It  would  be  a  long  story  :  I'll  make  it  short ;  for  we 
have  not  much  time  to  lose."  Daniels  looked  at  his  watch 
by  match-light.  "I  went  back  to  the  woods  where  I  lefb 
you,  —  to  the  spot  where  I  told  you  to  meet  me.  You  were 
not  there  ;  nor  indeed  did  I  much  expect  to  find  you  ;  for  I 
had  seen  the  ruins  of  Ellsmer's  house  :  I  did  not  suppose  you 
would  apply  at  any  other  for  assistance.  What,  then,  was 
left  for  you  but  to  try  to  get  back  to  the  Union  lines  without 
my  help  ?  I  concluded  you  had  done  so ;  and,  as  I  had 
pressing  business  at  Nashville,  I  gave  up  the  search,  and  hur- 
ried on.      I  reported  your  case  at  the  array  police  on  my 


A     TALK    ly    THE    DARK.  215 

arriTal,  and  made  inquiries  conceiTiing  you  :    you  had  not 
been  heard  from.     That  very  night,  however,  news  came  :   it 
was  brought  —  by  whom,  do  you  suppose?     By  your  negro 
friend  Pomp." 
>"  Then  he  escaped  ?  " 

"  Yes,  curiously  enough.  He  brought  in  as  a  prisoner 
one  of  the  rascals  that  had  kidnapped  him.  He  also  brought 
intelligence  of  the  greatest  utility  to  the  Yankees,  concerning 
an  attack  to  be  made  the  next  morning  on  their  position  on 
Mill  Creek." 

"  Was  the  attack  made  ?  "  Fred  eagerly  asked. 

" It  was  attempted;  but  the  Confederates  found  the  Yan- 
kees prepared  for  them,  and  barely  escaped  falling  into  a 
trap." 

"And  the  kidnappers?  I  hope  Pomp  has  had  his  re- 
venge on  them." 

Daniels  related  how  Bodson  had  been  captured,  and 
added,  — 

"  The  gray-headed  old  villain  who  had  taken  him  out  of 
Nashville,  and  had  him  kidnapped,  was  abeady  under  arrest. 
He  had  been  brought  to  Nashville,  as  soon  as  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  Pomp  had  disappeared.  He  professed  utter  ig- 
norance of  the  manner  in  which  the  negro  had  left  him,  and 
of  his  reasons  for  running  away ;  for  he  assumed  that  he  had 


216  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

run  away,  and  even  had  the  solemn  effrontery  to  request  the 
loan  of  another  laborer'  to  take  his  place  !  His  venerable 
white  beard  and  pious  demeanor  did  not  serve  his  purpose 
this  time,  however.  He  was  retained  until  Pomp's  return, 
when  Bodson  himself  denounced  him,  and  confessed  the 
kidnapping ;  and  they  were  both  sent  to  prison,  where  they 
will  probably  remain  until  the  end  of  the  war." 

*'  Grood  !  "ejaculated  Fred.  "  I  was  never  so  glad  to  hear 
any  thing  in  my  life." 

"  But  what  chiefly  interested  me  in  Pomp's  revelations," 
Daniels  continued,  "  was  the  news  he  brought  of  you.  I 
could  not  leave  Nashville  for  twenty-four  hours ;  but,  as  soon 
as  my  business  would  permit,  I  started.  I  traced  you  to  the 
camp  at  Stewartsborough,  and  thence  to  IMurfreesborough. 
There,  at  the  railroad  depot,  I  lost  you :  worse  than  that,  I 
could  not  pursue  my  inquu'ies  without  great  risk ;  for,  ever 
since  I  helped  you  to  escape,  I  have  been  a  suspected  man. 
"Well,  I  saw  your  friend  Carl  arrested.  Pomp  had  told  me 
of  Carl;  and,  when  I  saw  his  pass  for  two, — knowing  he 
came  from  Shelbyville,  and  believing  you  had  taken  the  train 
south,  —  I  thought  it  barely  possible  that  you  might  have? 
fallen  in  with  him.  But  I  did  not  think  you  would  enter 
Jflurfrcesborough  ;  and,  in  fact,  it  was  ascertained  that  nobody 
had  come  in  with  him  but  a  Texan  rano;er.      The  ranger 


A     TALK    IN    THE    DARK,  217 

had  gone  on  to  Lavergne*     I  followed,  and  had  the  good 
luck  to  find  him ;  and  he  told  me  where  I  could  find  you." 

"  Good  for  him  !  "  exclaimed  Fred.  "  So  much  is  gained 
by  being  lassoed  !  But  how  much  trouble  you  hare  given 
yourself  on  my  account !     How  can  I  ever  repay  you  ?  " 

"  Ask  no  questions;   but  believe  in  me,  and  that  will  re- 
pay me.     I  took  a  fancy  to  you  in  the  first  place  ;  and, 
having  once  undertaken  a  thing,  I  never  like  to  give  it  up. 
I  have  undertaken  to  get  you  oflf.     The  difficulties  in  the 
way  make  me  only  the  more  determined."     Again  Daniels 
struck  a  match,   and  looked  at  his  watch  (the  tavern   did 
not  furnish  candles) .     ' '  Now,  how  is  the  thing  to  be  done  ? 
You  are  hunted,  and  I  am  suspected.     I  have  a  pass  for 
myself;  but  I  dare  not  ask  for  one  for  you.     It  is  almost  nine 
o'clock.     Can  you  walk?  " 
"  A  little,  with  a  cane." 
"  But  you  can  ride  ?  " 
*'  If  I  have  a  chance." 

"Well,"  said  Daniels,  "one  thing  at  a  time.  The  first 
thing  is  to  get  out  of  this  tavern.  I  reckon  you  are  out  of 
money.  Take  this  and  your  cane,  hobble  down  to  the  bar- 
room, pay  the  landlord  what  you  owe  him,  and  tell  him  you 
are  going  on  towards  Muifreesborough.  You  will  not  get  far 
before  I  shall  overtake  you  on  horseback,  and  pick  you  up. 
Then  we'll  see  what  is  %  be  done  next." 

19 


218  THE    THREE    S  C  0  U I  S. 


XXII. 

A  NIGHT  IN  THE  WOODS.  —  THE  3I0RNING. 

RED  followed  Daniels's  advice,  and  went  hob- 
bling along  the  turnpike  in  the  darkness.  A 
horseman  soon  stopped  at  his  side.  It  was  his 
stranger  friend ;  and,  a  minute  later,  he  was  seated  behind 
him,  on  the  animal's  back. 

They  turned  into  a  lane,  and  were  soon  climbing  hills,  and 
riding  over  ridges,  along  by-roads  and  bridle-paths,  in  dark- 
ness that  would  have  been  universal  and  absolute  but 
for  the  surrounding  camp-fires.  These  lighted  up  the  waste 
of  blackness  about  the  city,  and  made  the  night  picturesque. 
Daniels  carefully  avoided  them.  At  length,  he  turned  his 
horse  into  a  dense,  dark  wood ;  so  dark,  that  he  had  to 
dismount  and  lead  him,  feeling  his  way  among  the  trees. 
Some  of  these  were  pines :  all  night  their  fragrance  filled  the 
au'  with  balm. 

* '  I  have  no  more  idea  where  we  are  than  as  if  we  were  in 
the  moon  !  "  said  Fred. 


A    NIGHT    IN    THE    WOODS.  219 

It  was  almost  the  fii'st  word  that  bad  been  spoken  since 
their  ride  began. 

"I  know  the  country  pretty  well,"  replied  Daniels. 
"Here  is  the  safest  place  for  you  at  present.  We'll  camp 
down  for  the  night." 

**  "Won't  it  be  a  waste  of  time  ?  "  said  I^'red.  "  We  might 
travel  a  good  many  miles  before  morning." 

"  Yes ;  but  you  don't  know  the  difficulties  in  the  way. 
Besides,  I  must  be  in  Mui-freesborough  in  the  morning,  to 
meet  an  engagement,  and  to  avert  suspicion." 

"You  know  best  what  to  do,"  said  Fred  gratefully,  yet 
regretfully.  "  But,  oh!  I'd  like  to  ride,  and  ride  all  night, 
and  never  stop  till  I  was  once  more  in  sight  of  blue-coats  !  " 

"  That  can't  be.  Here  we  tie  up."  Daniels  helped  Fred 
to  dismount ;  then  made  him  lie  down  on  the  ground,  wrap- 
ping him  in  his  blanket.  "  Now  sleep,  my  boy  :  you  need 
to.     You  are  safe  here  :  I'll  watch." 

"  Sleep  while  you  watch?  Take  your  blanket,  and  leave 
you  none  ?     No,  sir :  I  can't  do  that." 

Daniels  used  persuasion,  then  commands ;  but  Fred, 
although  so  ready^to  yield  to  hun  in  every  thing  else,  would 
not  in  this.  At  length,  the  matter  was  compromised  ; 
Daniels  consenting  to  lie  down,  and  share  the  blanket  with 
him. 


220  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

From  the  first,  Fred  had  felt  a  strange  respect  and  admira- 
tion for  this  man ;  and  now,  lying  under  the  same  blanket 
with  him,  conscious  of  a  strong  arm  stealing  over  him  and 
infolding  him  in  a  tender  embrace,  his  heart  began  to  warm 
towards  him  with  something  deeper  even  than  gratitude. 

"  How  kind  you  are  to  me  !  "  said  he,  nesthug  close  to  the 
man's  heart. 

*'  My  boy,"  replied  Daniels  in  a  low,  gentle  voice,  "  we 
must  be  khid  to  each  other  in  this  world :  we  cannot  be  too 
kind.     Have  you  brothers  ?  " 

*'  I  am  an  only  child,"  said  Fred. 

"  Then  I  will  be  your  brother.     Is  your  mother  living  ?  " 

'*  I  have  the  dearest,  best  mother  there  is  in  this  world  !  " 
said  Fred  with  a  gush  of  emotion. 

"  I  am  sure  she  must  be,  since  you  say  so.  Few  boys 
know  what  a  prize  a  good  mother  is.  I  remember  now 
hearing  you  speak  of  her  that  first  night  I  saw  you.  Did 
she  and  your  father  consent  to  your  going  to  the  war,  young 
as  you  are  ?  " 

*'She  consented;  but  I  had  no  father  whose  consent  to 
ask. 

''What!  is  he  dead?" 

*'He  may  be:  I  don't  know.  We  have  not  seen  nor 
heard  from  him  for  a  long  time,"  said  Fred  in  a  voice  that 
betrayed  how  painful  the  subject  was  to  him. 


A    NIGHT   IN    THE    WOODS.  221 

"  All !  I  remember :  you  said  he  was  a  slaveholder,  I 
believe ;  and  your  mother  separated  from  him  on  that 
account.  Well,  no  doubt  she  acted  nobly,  since  she  acted 
conscientiously.  But  I  have  known  good  and  even  noble 
men  among  slaveholders.  I  am  not  a  slaveholder  myself; 
but  I  would  do  them  justice." 

"And  I  believe,"  replied  Fred  earnestly,  *' that  my 
father  was  a  good  man ;  or  at  least  would  have  been,  if  it 
hadn't  been  for  slavery.  My  mother  says  slavery  makes 
men  selfish  and  tyrannical.  They  soon  learn  to  pKefer  might 
to  right.  They  get  into  a  habit  of  being  unfeeling,  if  not 
cruel.  They  despise  honest  labor,  and  become  so  proud  and 
passionate,  that  a  man,  or  even  a  woman,  that  has  different 
opinions,  can't  live  with  them." 

"■  Well,  she  is  more  than  half  right  in  her  judgment,  I  am 
afraid  !  Couldn't  your  father  see  it  so  ?  It  seems  to  me,  if 
she  is  the  woman  I  take  her  to  be,  he  ought  to  have  been 
wilHng  to  give  up  a  thousand  slaves,  rather  than  such  a 
wife." 

"And  so  he  would,  I  presume,  if  it  hadn't  been  for  his 
prejudices.  Good-hearted  he  was,  my  mother  says,  but  the 
most  wilful  man  in  the  world.  If  he  had  set  his  mind  on  a 
thing,  he  would  have  it  or  nothing ;  and  what  he  said  he 
would  do,  ho  would,  though  the  world  should  come  to  an  end.'* 
19* 


222  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

**  Strange  that  men  will  be  so  !  And  is  not  your  motlier 
a  little  self-willed  too  V  " 

"  She  is  very  firm  :  yes,  I  don't  know  bnt  she  is  self- 
willed,"  Fred  confessed.  "  But,  oh  !  she  is  such  a  generous, 
noble-hearted  woman  !  She  makes  sure  she  is  right,  in  the 
first  place  ;  then  she  is  capable  of  any  thing.  I  don't  think 
there  was  ever  a  mother  that  loved  a  son  better  than  she 
loves  me ;  but  when  she  saw  how  I  wanted  to  go  and  fight 
for  my  country,  and  that  I  was  right,  then  ' '  — 

Fred  could  not  finish  the  sentence  :  all  his  love  for  that 
noble  and  dear  mother  seemed  welling  up  in  his  heart,  and 
choking  him. 

Daniels  was  silent  for  some  minutes;  but  there  was  a 
thrilling  tenderness  in  the  touch  of  the  hand,  and  the  pres- 
sure of  the  arm,  that  drew  the  boy  softly  and  closely  to  his 
breast. 

*'  Well,  Frederick,"  said  he  at  length,  "  I  hope,  for  her 
sake  as  well  as  yours,  that  you  will  get  out  of  this  trouble, 
and  go  through  the  war  safely,  and  return  home  to  comfort 
her." 

"  I  thank  you,  — I  thank  you,  from  my  inmost  heart!  " 
said  Fred.  But  he  added,  "My^name  isn't  Frederick, 
though." 

*'  I  thought  the  boys  called  you  Fred." 


A    NIGHT   IN    THE    WOODS.  223 

"  That  is  my  nick-name  ;  but  my  name  is  Alfred." 

"  Well,  Alfred,  it  is  time  for  you  to  go  to  sleep.  I  shall 
leave  you  soon ;  but  dqn't  be  disturbed  when  I  go.  Some 
time  to-morrow  you  will  see  me  again." 

'*  I  hope  you  will  not  go  into  any  danger  on  my  account ! " 

' '  I  never  go  into  danger  unnecessarily  :  that  is  very  fool- 
ish.    So  set  your  mind  at  rest ;  and  good-night !  " 

The  "  good-night  "  meant  "  sleep."  And  soon  the  tran- 
quil, deep  breathing  of  the  man  indicated  that  he  slept.  But 
Fred,  excited,  lay  awake,  and  envied  him.  He  envied  the 
sleeping  horse,  and  all  the  sleeping  creatures  in  the  woods. 
The  woods  themselves  seemed  to  slumber;  and  the  night- 
wind,  swelling  through  them,  beaved  them  gently,  as  it  were, 
with  long-drawn  sighs  of  repose. 

At  length,  Fred,  too,  fell  into  a  light  slumber,  from  whicb 
he  was  awakened  by  the  stirring  of  his  companion.  Daniels 
was  getting  up. 

"  Are  you  going?  "  whispered  Fred. 

'*  Yes,  Alfred.     Have  you  slept  ?  " 

"AUttle." 

"  You  are  not  much  of  a  soldier,  or  you  would  have  slept 
a  good  deal.  A  soldier  learns  to  sleep  at  all  times,  and  in 
all  weathers,  in  the  face  of  danger,  and  on  any  kind  of  a 
bed,  when  he  has  a  chance." 


224  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Oh  !  my  bed  is  well  enough.  It  isn't  danger  nor  the 
strangeness  of  the  place  that  troubles  me ;  but  I  couldn't 
help  thinking." 

**xibout  what?" 

"  About  my  mother,  —  and  my  father.  1  wonder  if  she 
has  heard  by  this  time  that  I  have  been  taken  prisoner.  Oh ! 
I  know  just  how  she  will  feel.  Then  I  can't  help  thinkmg 
that  my  father  is  probably  in  the  rebel  army,  and  we  are 
fighting  against  each  other,  and  may  be  we  shall  meet  yet." 

•'And  if  you  should?" 

"  I  hope  I  shall  not  know  that  he's  my  father !  " 

"I  hope  so  too.  But  now  good-by.  I  leave  my  saddle- 
bags with  you.  They  make  a  good  pillow ;  and  you  will 
find  they  are  good  for  something  else  when  you  open  them." 

Fred  sat  up ;  while  his  companion,  scarcely  visible  in  the 
gloom  of  the  woods,  untied  his  horse,  and  led  him  slowly 
and  cautiously  out  through  the  trees.  Soon  the  sound  of 
hoofs  and  footsteps  and  the  rustling  of  boughs  ceased. 
The  lad  was  alone  in  the  darkness  and  silence. 

He  now  lay  down  again,  wrapped  the  blanket  well  about 
him,  and  slept  three  or  four  hours.  He  awoke  at  last,  feel- 
ing very  cold ;  for  the  night,  though  still,  was  wintry.  It 
was  not  yet  day.  He  looked  up,  and  saw,  thiough  the  black 
boughs  of  the  pines,  the  high,  calm,  holy  stars,  twinkling  in 


THE    MORXIXG.  225 

the  far-off  heaven.  He  lay  watclimg  those  glittering  points 
of  light,  as  they  moved  across  an  opening  in  the  branch- 
es, until  he  thought  the  deep,  dark  blue  of  the  vault  of 
night  began  to  pale  a  little,  and  that  a  dim,  gray  glimmer 
began  to  infuse  itself,  so  to  speak,  into  the  gloom  of  the 
woods. 

Yes,  the  dawn  was  at  hand.  But  hark !  what  sound 
was  that  ?  Footsteps !  Could  it  be  Daniels  returning  ? 
Fred  sat  up,  and  listened  with  strained  nerves.  More  than 
one  man  was  approaching,  —  stealthily,  quickly,  with  sup- 
pressed whispers,  and  now  and  then  the  sudden  shaking  of 
a  bough  or  sharp  snapping  of  a  twig.  There  must  have 
been  half  a  dozen,  at  least,  treading  the  dark  mazes  of  the 
woods.  They  passed  very  near  the  spot  where  he  sat 
watching  for  a  development  of  the  mystery.  He  could  even 
see  their  dim  forms  start  like  darker  shadows  across  the  shad- 
ows of  the  woods.  One  came  treading  close  by  his  lame 
foot  outstretched  upon  the  gi-ound,  and  another  passed  on 
the  other  side  of  him.  Had  he  been  betrayed?  and  were 
these  enemies  surrounding  him?  They  might  have  seen 
him  sitting  there,  close  by  the  trunk  of  the  pine-tree,  with 
the  saddle-bags  behind  him,  and  the  blanket,  fallen  from  his 
shoulders,  upon  the  ground ;  but,  in  the  obscurity,  he  might 
have  been  taken  for  a  stump,  he  was  so  motionless  and  still. 


226  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Now^  Fred  was  not  a  coward ;  yet  the  mystery  of  these 
moving  human  forms  impressed  him  strangely.  They  passed 
on,  out  of  sight,  out  of  hearing,  and  the  woods  were  silent 
again;  and  he  felt  that  he  was  once  more  alone.  But  he  did 
not  cease  to  wonder  at  the  incident ;  and  he  sat  long,  hsten- 
ing  to  catch  the  faintest  sound,  and  watching  the  shadows  all 
around  him  in  the  great  sombre  woods. 

"  Well,  whoever  they  are,  they  are  gone,"  he  said  to 
himself.  He  lay  down  again ;  but  he  could  not  sleep.  His 
open  eyes  kept  looking  up  through  the  pine  boughs,  watching 
the  stars  fade  and  the  bl-je  brighten.  At  length,  there  were 
no  stars;  and  a  subdued,  still  light  filled  all  the  woods; 
and  suddenly,  into  the  topmost  boughs  above  him,  there 
shot  a  golden  flash.     It  was  sunrise. 

He  sat  up,  with  the  blanket  wrapped  about  him ;  for  he 
was  hardly  warm  yet.  He  found  himself  in  a  little  hollow 
of  a  woody  hill.  The  pine-leaves  matted  the  ground.  All 
around  hun  were  still,  solemn  trunks  and  gi'eat  roots  grasp- 
ing the  soil,  and  here  and  there  clumps  of  undergrowth, 
filling  up  the  vistas;  all  so  peaceful  and  pleasant  in  the 
early  light,  that  Fred,  breathing  the  fresh  dawn  and  the  piny 
odors,  was  almost  happy. 

He  got  upon  his  feet,  or  rather  foot,  and,  with  the  aid 
of  his  cane,  hopped  about  a  little  for  exercise,  and  to  take 


THE    MORNING.  227 

an  observation.  He  could  discover  no  traces  of  the  myste- 
rious men  who  had  passed  so  near  him  just  before  dawn. 
He  took  his  blanket  and  the  saddL-bags,  and  carried  them 
to  a  clump  of  bushes  near  by,  which  would  afford  him  a 
sort  of  shelter  in  case  others  should  come. 

Having  placed  the  blanket  on  the  ground,  and  seated 
himself,  he  proceeded  to  open  the  saddle-bags  for  amuse- 
ment. He  found  them  well  stored  with  provisions,  consist- 
ing chiefly  of  hard  biscuit  and  bacon.  There  was  also  a 
flask  of  water,  with  a  flask  of  something  besides  water. 
Fred  ate  and  drank,  and  felt  grateful;  interrupted  two  or  three 
times,  however,  by  sounds  that  startled  him  a  little.  Was 
somebody  coming  behind  the  bushes?  He  could  see  no 
one ;  and  concluded  that  what  he  had  mistaken  for  the 
crackling  of  a  twig  or  the  rustling  of  a  leaf  was  the  crush- 
ing of  the  brittle  biscuit  between  his  own  teeth. 

"This  is  a  breakfast  for  a  king !"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  There's  enough  for  a  dozen ;  and  I  only  wish  I  had  some-^ 
body  to  share  it  with." 

He  had  scarcely  made  the  wish,  when,  lo  !  once  more  the 
startling  sounds  !  It  could  not  be  the  biscuit  this  time  ;  for  he 
had  but  just  drank,  and  his  mouth  was  empty.  He  started 
up,  determined  to  take  a  good  look  behind  the  bushes.  No 
sooner  had  he  done  so,  however,  than  up  leaped  half  a  dozen 


228  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

men  from  the  ground,  over  which  they  had  been  for  the  past 
ten  minutes  creeping  like  so  many  cats,  ready,  at  a  motion, 
to  spring  upon  him.  Ho  was  smTOunded  in  an  instant ;  and 
two  in  rebel  uniform  rushed  upon  him.  The  foremost,  pre- 
senting a  musket  at  his  breast,  said  in  a  suppressed  voice,  — 

"  You're  our  piisoner  !  " 

The  rest  crowded  around.  One  brandished  a  hatchet,  the 
others  had  guns  or  clubs.  Not  a  word  was  spoken  loud 
enough  to  be  heard  ten  yards  off.  Fred,  frightened  at  fii-st 
by  the  sudden  onset,  —  thinking  neither  of  resistance  nor 
flight,  for  he  was  defenceless,  and  running  was  out  of  the 
question,  —  stared  at  his  captors  with  astonishment ;  then 
stared  again  with  still  greater  astonishment ;  winked,  to  make 
sure  that  his  eyes  did  not  deceive  him ;  and  burst  into  a  joy- 
ful laugh. 

"Hello,  Fred!  is  it  you  I"  exclaimed  the  foremost  man 
with  the  musket. 

That  man  was  Cy  Thurston ;  and  the  man  next  him  was 
lazy  Jake ;  and  the  man  with  the  hatchet,  now  pressing  for- 
ward to  seize  the  saddle-bags,  was  old  Joel. 

"It's  me,  boys!  How  are  you?  how  are  you?"  cried 
Fred,  grasping  then-  hands  two  at  a  time,  as  if  he  would  have 
embraced  tlicm  all  at  once,  so  great  was  his  delight. 


OLD     COMRADES.  229 


XXIII. 

OLD    COMRADES,   AND    THEIR 
ADVENTURES. 

AL  !  if  this  don't  beat  all  natur !  "  said  old 
Joel,  dropping  liis  prize,  and  coming  in  for  a 
share  of  Fred's  attentions.  "Who  would  ever 
have  knowed  you  in  that  rig  ?  " 

*'  Sit  down,  boys,"  said  Fred.  "  Where  did  you  all  come 
from  ?  What  luck !  I  was  just  wishing  for  company  at 
breakfast!  " 

"  Well,  it's  breakfast  we  want,"  said  Cy.  "  We  are  half 
famished.  We  have  travelled  something  less  than  a  hundred 
miles,  with  not  enough  to  eat  to  keep  a  cat  from  starving." 

"  And  you  were  going  to  rob  me  ?  "  Fred  laughed,  glan- 
cing delightedly  from  one  to  the  other.  **  If  that  isn't  a 
joke  I  " 

' '  We  came  into  these  woods  this  morning  just  before  light, 
and  hid  for  the  day,"  said  Cy.  "  But  hunger  was  pressing. 
Old  Joel  and  I  crept  out  to  reconnoitre.     We  spied  a  young 

20 


230  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

fellow  in  a  butternut  coat  making  for  these  bushes,  with  sad- 
dle-bags in  his  hands.  I  watch  him  whilst  old  Joel  informs 
the  rest.  I  see  him  open  the  saddle-bags,  and  begin  to 
crunch.  It's  a  matter  of  life  or  death  to  us ;  and  taking  you 
all  the  while  for  a  good  rebel,  sent  in  our  way  by  a  kind 
Providence,  we  pitch  in." 

* '  And  came  near  splitting  my  brains  with  that  hatchet ! 
Well,  here's  something  else  to  split :  split  those  biscuit. 
Take  hold,  boys ;  take  hold  !     Eat,  old  Joel ;  eat !  " 

"  Bless  me  !  "  said  old  Joel,  "  I  furgit  the  victuals  look- 
ing at  you !  It's  breakfast  enough  jest  to  see  you  agin. 
We  was  in  hopes  you  had  got  off;  but  the  rebs  said  you'd 
been  shot,  and  we  didn't  know  what  to  thmk.  Been  hit  in 
the  leg?  or  what's  the  matter  that  makes  ye  lame  ?  " 

Fred  told  his  story  in  as  few  words  as  possible,  hurrying  to 
get  through,  so  great  was  his  curiosity  to  hear  how  his  com- 
panions had  escaped. 

"  Get  well  into  the  bushes  here  ^  boys,"  said  Cy.  "You 
keep  watch  on  that  side,  Jake  :  Joel  will  keep  a  look-out  on 
the  other.  You  and  your  saddle-bags  are  a  tremendous  treat, 
Fred  !  Wine  ?  "  —  tasting  the  contents  of  j9ask  number  two. 
"Oh!  that  is  royal  I  " 

"Pass  it  around,"  said  Fred.  "It's  just  the  stuff  for 
you.     You  are  the  haggardest  set  of  fellows  I've  seen  this 


OLD    COMRADES.  231 

many  a  day.  Jake,  you  look  as  though  you'd  "been  drawn 
through  a  knot-hole  !  " 

"I  feel  as  though  I'd  been  di^awd  through  about  sixty! 
If  any  one  calls  me  lazy  Jake  after  this,  he  deserves  to  be 
hung!" 

"Jake,  git  him  woke  up  once,  is  a  dense  of  a  feller," 
said  old  Joel.  "He  could  out-travel  the  best  on  us,  'cept 
Cy ;  and  he's  done  wonders  other  ways  :  but  Cy  must  tell 
you  about  that." 

"  You  see,"  said  Cy,  —  "  keep  a  sharp  look-out  while  I 
tell,  boys,  —  the  rebs  hurried  us  on  to  the  railroad,  and 
shipped  us  aboard  a  train  bound  south  ;  taking  us  to  Macon, 
down  in  Georgia,  there  to  rot  in  prison  till  the  end  of  the 
war,  we  understood.  Well,  'twasn't  a  pleasant  prospect. 
Even  Jake  preferred  a  little  more  active  kind  of  life.  But 
what  should  we  do  ?  We  were  under  a  strojig  guard,  and 
even  our  jack-knives  had  been  taken  from  us.  We  passed 
through  Murfreesborough,  and  on  towards  Chattanooga.  We 
didn't  have  the  chance  you  did  to  jump  from  the  cars,  and 
sprain  our  ankles  without  knowing  it.  Shut  up  in  a  little  air- 
tight freight-car,  we  were,  a  dozen  of  us,  all  together,  and 
locked  in.  We  came  as  near  suffocating  in  that  horrible  box 
as  ever  mortal  men  did.  No  window,  scarce  a  crack  to  let 
in  light  or  air,  nothing  but  the  bare  boards,  we  were  piled  in 


.232  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

there  like  so  many  cattle  ;  only  no  drover,  with  any  common 
sense  or  a  grain  of  humanity,  would  treat  dumb  beasts  in 
that  way.  At  Tullahoma  the  guard  did  have  the  kindness 
to  unlock  the  door  in  reply  to  oui'  shrieks  for  air  and  water, 
and  inform  us,  that,  if  we  did  not  keep  still,  we  should  be  shot 
without  notice.  He  couldn't  help  seeing  the  condition  we 
were  in,  though  :  and  we  got  a  bucket  of  water,  which  was 
a  great  luxuiy ;  for  by  that  time  we  were  dying  with  thirst. 
We  got  half  a  breath  of  aii%  besides ;  and  that's  all  we  had  to 
live  on  for  the  next  two  houi-s.  We  stopped  some  time  in 
Tullahoma,  locked  up  again  as  before,  and  waiting  for  the 
train  to  start,  and  gTowing  impatient ;  for  we  were  in  a  huny 
now  to  get  to  Macon,  —  to  get  anywhere  out  of  that  car. 
We  didn't  believe  a  rebel  prison  could  be  worse.  But  it 
was  two  hundred  miles  to  3Iacon  :  think  of  two  hundred 
miles  of  suffocation  before  us  ! 

"Well,  we  were  off  at  last,  and  running  horribly  slow,  as 
we  judged  by  the  motion  of  the  car.  At  last,  we  grew  des- 
perate. Although  we  knew  we  should  be  fired  into  for  the 
attempt,  —  whether  we  succeeded  or  not,  we  determined  to 
make  one  grand  rush,  in  a  mass,  and  bui-st  the  door,  or  break 
the  lock  or  something :  we  cared  little  what. 

"  Just  as  we  were  going  to  try  it,  an  accident  happened  ;^ 
and  a  very  fortunate  one,  as  it  proved  for  us.     The  train  ran 


OLD    COMRADES.  233 

off  the  track.  There  was  a  terrible  shock  and  crash  and  we 
knew  what  it  meant. 

"  '  Now  is  our  chance,  boys  ! '  says  I ;  and  three  times  — 
crash,  crash,  crash  !  —  we  went  against  the  door  before  it 
gave  way. 

"  It  was  not  merely  a  breath  of  air  we  were  after  now, 
but  escape.  Webster  Jones  —  you  remember  him  ?  —  was 
the  first  one  out :  he  was  shot  down  in  a  twinkling.  I  was 
next ;  and  a  bullet  whizzed  across  the  back  of  my  head,  cut- 
ting my  hair,  and  just  grazing  my  scalp.  Lazy  Jake  left  the 
first  part  of  his  name  behind  him  in  that  car,  and  leaped  like 
a  deer  :  he  ran  betwixt  the  bullets,  just  as  I  believe  he  would 
have  run  betwixt  the  drops  if  it  had  been  raining  a  shower. 
Then  up  came  the  bayonets,  cutting  off  the  escape  of  the 
rest :  so  that  only  he  and  I  got  away." 

"  One  on  us  killed,"  said  old  Joel,  "  and  three  others 
wounded,  — two  with  bayonets,  and  t'other  with  a  ball :  that's 
all  we  made  out  o'  that  stampede,  for  the  time.  But  Jake 
and  Cy  had  cleared ;  and  that  was  glory  enough,  even  for 
the  wounded  fellows." 

"  I  rather  think,"  said  Jake,  "  me  and  Cy  did  some  tall 
running  just  then  ;  hey,  Cy  ?  " 

"  I  should  know  ji^u  would  go  where  Cy  went,"  said  Fred 
in  the  gayest  spirits.  "  It  was  to  keep  him  company,  I  sup- 
pose, that  you  concluded  to  try  a  race  with  the  bullets." 

20* 


234  TEE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  You  would  have  said  lie  had  kept  his  mnniug  powers 
bottled  up  all  his  life,  and  uncorked  them  on  that  special 
occasion,"  said  Cv.  "  Bullets  couldn't  catch  him.  He  went 
ahead  of  me  like  a  streak.  You  couldn't  see  his  legs,  any 
more  than  you  could  the  spokes  of  a  wheel  making  sixty  rev- 
olutions a  second.  There  was  just  a  twinkling  mist  where 
legs  should  have  been ;  while  his  body  flfew  through  the  air 
like  a  very  large  bu'd  with  very  small  wings :  I  mean  his 
arms." 

"  I  might  have  looked  so  to  any  one  in  the  distance,"  said 
Jake ;  "  for,  I  own,  my  nose  cut  the  wind  like  an  an-ow- 
head  for  a  few  minutes.  But  Cy  was  too  near  my  heels  not 
to  see  them." 

"Well,"  Cy  laughed,  "I  thought  with  Jake,  that,  since 
our  leojs  had  found  somethino;  to  do,  we  had  better  do  it  with 

ID  O  ' 

all  our  might.  I  looked  behind,  and  saw  thi-ee  of  the  guard 
coming  after  us  with  fixed  bayonets.  I  looked  ahead,  and 
saw  the  loveliest  mountain  slopa  that  ever  cheered  on  a  hunted 
fugitive,  —  such  tremendous  woods,  such  a  wild,  grand  forest, 
to  hide  in  !  Jake  reached  it  first,  and  turned  around,  and 
swung  his  hat,  and  yelled  defiance  at  the  rebs ;  and,  the 
next  minute,  we  were  both  safe  in  the  timber." 

"  But  the  rest  —  what  became  of  the  rest  of  you  ?  " 

"  We  was  jammed  back  into  the  car  again,  by  time  !  "  said 


OLD    COMRADES.  235 

old  Joel.  "But  the  door  had  been  broken  open  once,  and 
might  be  agin.  Besides,  the  train  couldn't  be  got  on  to  the 
track,  and  damages  repaired,  short  of  six  or  eight  hours : 
by  that  time  it  would  be  night ;  and  the  guard  was  small. 
So  it  was  concluded  that  the  best  thing  to  do  with  us  was  to 
march  us  men  to  the  nearest  county  jail,  and  lock  us  up  for 
safe  keeping  till  called  for.  We  was  in  Franklin  County,  on 
the  borders  of  Alabama ;  and  the  jail  was  at  Winchester,  — 
about  four  miles  from  where  we  run  off  the  track.  Wal," 
added  Joel,  "we  made  them  air  four  miles  at  a  double- 
quick  ;  and,  in  'bout  an  hour  from  the  time  o'  the  accident, 
we  was  behind  grated  winders  and  double-locked  ii'on  doors." 

"  How  did  you  ever  get  out  of  that  scrape?  "  asked  Fred. 

"  I  must  tell  you  fii'st  what  became  of  Jake  and  me,"  said 
Cy.  "  We  were  hunted,  of  course  ;  and,  after  the  rest  of  the 
boys  were  disposed  of,  the  guard  had  a  good  time  with  us. 
They  scoured  the  mountain  ;  and  once  came  so  near  where 
we  were  hid,  that  we  could  hear  them  talking  about  us.  We 
didn't  know  the  country,  and  we  didn't  dare  trust  to  the 
bushes  :  so  we  had  climbed  up  a  couple  of  low  pine-trees  ;  and 
there  we  were  like  a  couple  of  coons,  peeping  down  through 
the  tops,  which  were  just  thick  enough  to  prevent  us  from  being 
seen,  but  not  too  thick  for  us  to  see  something  of  what  was 
going  on  below. 


236  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  "Well,  the  rebs  hunted  beyond  us,  and  all  around  us; 
and  finally  it  began  to  grow  dark.  Then  we  saw  two  fellows 
coming  through  the  woods.  They  had  been  hunting  us  for 
miles,  but  had  given  us  up,  and  were  on  their  way  back  to 
the  railroad.  '  If  we  could  only  capture  'em,  and  get  their 
guns ! '  says  Jake  from  his  tree.  '  If  we  only  had  their 
guns,  then  we  could  capture  the  men  themselves,'  says  I 
from  my  tree.  But  neither  of  us  imagined,  for  a  moment, 
that  the  thing  was  possible.  We  were  only  waiting  for 
night,  when  we  expected  to  slip  down  from  the  trees  a  little 
faster  than  we  had  slipped  up,  and  travel  towai'ds  the  north 
star  till  morning. 

"  But  'twasn't  so  to  be.  We  were  destined  to  come  down 
from  those  tops  a  little  faster  even  than  we  anticipated.  I 
thought  the  r«bs  must  have  discovered  us,  they  marched  so 
straight  to  where  we  were.  But,  instead  of  looking  up  into 
the  trees,  they  stopped  near  them,  and  began  to  shout  for 
their  comrades.  Finally  they  set  their  guns  against  the  very 
tree  I  was  in,  and  threw  themselves  on  the  ground.  They 
appeared  tired ;  and  there  they  lay  talking  over  their  bad  luck, 
when  something  curious  happened.  Jake  must  tell  you  about 
that." 

**What  happened,"  said  Jake,  "was  this.  I'm  a  lazy 
cus,  as  you  know,  Fred,  and  as  you  take  the  trouble  to  in- 


OLD    COMRADES.  237 

form  folks,  every  chance  you  git.  But  I  forgive  you,  I 
am  kinder  inclined  that  way,  I  allow.  Wal,  you  see,  I  was 
too  lazy  to  come  down  that  tree  the  way  I  went  up.  So 
when  I  see  one  o'  them  rebs  stretched  out  there,  within 
jutQpmg  distance,  — so  tempting  to  a  lazy  peep  like  me,  ye 
]jnow,  —  says  I  to  myself,  '  If  I  can  light  on  him,  'twill  be 
killing  two  birds  with  one  stone.'  One  bird  would,  like  as 
not,  be  the  reb :  besides  that,  I  should  break  my  fall  on  his 
fat  stomach,  and  so  get  down  from  that  roost  easy." 

"And  you  jumped?"  cried  Fred,  laughing  at  Jake's 
humorous  way  of  stating  an  exciting  fact,  but  eager  to  hear 
the  result. 

"You  should  have  seen  him!"  said  Cy.  "I  always 
knew,  that,  when  he  could  be  got  to  jump,  he  was  a  pro- 
digious jumper.  But  I  never  expected  such  a  leap  from 
such  a  ticklish  foothold  as  he  must  have  had  on  the  tree.  No 
kangaroo  ever  equalled  it.  The  reb  must  have  been  a  dozen 
feet  from  the  trunk.  He  heard  a  rustling,  and  both  rebs 
started  up.  If  they  had  the  leisure  to  observe,  they  might 
have  seen  a  spread-eagle  of  the  largest  dimensions  soaring 
out  of  that  tree-top,  but  suddenly  changing  his  mind,  and 
pouncing  down  upon  'em.  They  didn't  have  time  to  reach 
theii'  guns,  or  even  to  get  well  on  their  feet.  The  nearest 
was  just  rising,  when  Jake  struck  him,  and  he  went  down 


238  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

again  as  if  a  thousand  of  brick  had  fallen  on  him.  Jake's 
knees  went  into  his  body,  and  his  breath  went  out  of  it,  with 
a  loud   'Ha  !  '   you  might  have  heard  half  a  mile." 

"  T'other  reb,"  said  Jake,  biting  a  slice  of  bacon  as  deliber- 
ately as  if  he  had  been  telling  the  most  coramonplace  story  in 
the  world,  "  sprung  for  his  gun;  and,  before  I  could  have 
got  untangled  from  the  ribs  I  had  smashed  in,  he'd  have  been 
on  me,  and  it  might  have  been  said  of  me  that  I'd  made  my 
last  jump.  But  just  then  another  spread-eagle  might  have 
been  seen  coming  out  of  Cy's  tree.  He  didn't  go  the  full 
figure  quite  so  extensive  as  I  did  ;  but  he  was  some.  He 
didn't  hit  the  reb  neither,  but  come  down  between  him  and 
the  guns,  just  in  season,  —  on  all-fours,  of  course ;  but  any 
how  was  better  than  no  how." 

"  The  reb  might  even  then  have  got  the  start  of  me,  and 
snatched  a  gun  before  I  could  stop  him,"  added  Cy.  "  But 
he  looked  as  if  he  expected  to  see  a  spread-eagle  come  out 
of  every  tree  in  the  woods,  and  turned  to  i-un  like  a  coward. 
'  Stop  him  ! '  says  Cy ;  and  I  stopped  him.  I  got  hold  of  a 
gun  ;  and,  as  he  was  legging  it  straight  from  me,  I  took  good 
aim,  and  —  no  matter  about  the  rest.  He  didn't  run  fai\ 
That's  his  coat  Jake  has  got  on.  Show  Fred  the  hole  in  the 
back,  Jake." 

It  was  a  bullet-hole,  and  there  was  a  blood  stain  around  it. 


\ 


OLD    COMRADES.  239 

"By  this  time,"  said  Jake,  "the  cushion  I  had  jumped 
on  to  gasped,  and  came  to  a  little.  He  was  more  frightened 
than  hurt ;  and  when  we  stood  over  him,  with  the  p'int  of 
his  own  gun  at  his  breast,  and  told  him  if  he  lied  to  us,  or 
yelled,  we'd  blow  his  brains  out,  he  had  no  more  gumption 
than  to  out  with  every  thing  we  wanted  to  know.  He  told  us 
how  the  jail  was  situated,  but  said  it  wasn't  possible  for  the 
boys  to  break  out.  Then  Cy  and  I  put  our  heads  together, 
and  hit  upon  a  neat  Kttle  stratagem.  ,  Tell  about  it,  Cy  !  " 
And  Jake,  having  finished  his  repast,  stretched  himself  un- 
der the  bushes  languidly. 

"  We  promised  to  spare  the  fellow's  life^if  he  would  do 
every  thing  we  required.  He  promised.  Then  I  made  him 
change  clothes  with  me.  At  the  same  time,  Jake  got  into  the 
dead  rebel's  uniform.  We  waited  till  it  was  dark  enough  ; 
then,  armed  with  the  guns  we  had  captured,  and  with  our 
prisoner  between  us,  we  started.  As  we  were  getting  off 
the  mountain,  we  met  a  rebel  farmer.  We  halted  him,  and 
inquired  the  most  direct  road  to  Winchester  Jail.  He  told 
us,  and  said,  '  So  ye  cotched  him,  did  ye  ?  '  —  '  Cotched  one 
of  the  scoundrels,'  I  said,   '  and  killed  t'other.' 

"  We  didn't  meet  with  any  difl5culty  until  near  Winches- 
ter. There  we  fell  in  with  the  night  patrol  going  the  rounds. 
As  they  were  only  two,  and  we  were  two,  our  prisoner  didn't 


240  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

dare  to  make  any  demonstration.  We  were  challenged ;  but 
we  told  our  story,  and  inquired  the  way  to  the  jail.  '  We'll 
go  with  you,'  said  they,  '  and  see  your  prisoner  jugged.' 
'  There's  no  necessity  of  that,'  I  said  :  '  we  had  the  glory  of 
capturing  him,  and  we  mean  to  jug  him  without  any  help.' 
Then  one  of  them  said  he  would  go  and  show  us  the  way  to 
the  jail ;  and  we  couldn't  refuse  his  pohte  offer,  without  ex- 
citing suspicion.  We  made  him  go  ahead,  and  tell  the  jailer 
a  prisoner  was  coming.  It  was  midnight :  the  town  was  all 
asleep,  and  the  jailer  had  to  be  called  up.  Knowing  the 
patrolman,  he  supposed  all  was  as  it  should  be,  and  came 
with  his  lantern  and  keys  to  let  us  in." 

"  We  were  just  the  least  mite  tickled  to  find  no  guard 
about  the  jail,"  said  Jake,  raising  his  head  among  the  bushes; 
"  but  Cy  made  believe  he  was  mad  to  see  such  neglect. 
'What's  the  reason  there's  none  of  our  fellows  on  duty 
here?'  says  he.  'Oh!  there's  no  need  of  that,'  says  the 
jailer ;  '  for  this  is  one  of  the  strongest  jails  in  Tennessee. 
Your  boys  was  tired  out  after  theu-  hunt,  and  concluded  to 
go  to  bed.'  Just  then,  the  prisoner  undertook  to  speak; 
but  I  fetched  him  a  blow  on  the  mouth,  and  swore,  if  he 
opened  his  head  to  make  a  fuss,  I'd  put  the  cold  steel 
through  him." 

Cy  resumed  :   "The  patrolman  was  now  behind,  and  the 


OLD    COMRADES.  241 

jailer  before,  opening  the  doors.  *  Come,  hurry  up  ! '  says 
I.  'We  don't  want  to  be  all  night  about  this  little  job.' 
He  opened  one  door.  I  went  in  with  him  and  the  prisoi^- 
er  :  Jake  staid  outside  to  take  care  of  the  patrolman.  The 
jailer  locked  the  door  behind  us,  then  selected  another  key 
to  open  the  door  that  led  into  the  main  hall  of  the  jail.  Just 
then,  the  prisoner,  seeing  that  I  was  one,  and  they  were  two, 
burst  out  with  a  few  words ;  and  I  couldn't  stop  him  without 
knocking  him  on  the  head.  Down  he  fell  senseless.  But  he 
had  said  enough  to  alarm  the  jailer.  '  I'm  afraid  all  ain't 
right,'  says  he.  '  All  will  be,'  says  I,  '  when  you've  opened 
that  door  ! '  He  gave  one  yell  for  help,  —  but  not  two. 
He  got  a  stunner  on  the  temple ;  and,  before  he  had  recov- 
ered from  that,  he  felt  the  bayonet  biting  his  ribs,  *  Not  a 
word;  but  unlock  that  door,  or  this  iron  goes  through 
you  ! '  He  was  too  frightened  to  make  any  resistance ;  and 
so  he  unlocked  it." 

"By  that  time,"  said  Jake,  "I  had  my  hands  full. 
"  At  the  first  screech  of  the  jailer,  the  patrolman  (I  had 
kept  him  talking  till  then)  started,  and  said,  '  What  does  that 
mean  ?  '  —  'It  means  you  are  my  prisoner  ! '  says  I ;  and 
my  bayonet  was  at  his  breast  before  he  could  say  Jack  Roh^ 
inson.  He  undertook  to  get  away,  and  was  drawing  a  re- 
volver, and  shouting  :  so  I  was  obliged  to  let  hiai  have  it.     I 

21 


242  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

gave  one  lounge ;  he  went  back  agin  the  fence,  and  there 
he  stuck.  The  bayonet  went  clear  through  hun  into  the 
post,  and  there  I  left  him  pinned.  I  let  go  my  gun, 
snatched  his  revolver,  and  ran  back  into  the  jail.  I  heard  a 
rumpus  in  a  room  opposite  the  cells.  I  sprang  to  the  door, 
and  threw  it  open ;  and  there  the  jail  lamp  showed  me  an 
interesting  sight,  rather !  It  was  the  jailer's  sitting-room, 
and  there  four  rebel  soldiers  —  the  same  that  had  been  hunt- 
ing us,  and  had  got  tuckered  out  —  had  been  asleep.  But 
they  were  wide-awake  enough  now.  Theu'  guns  stood  close 
by  the  door  I  had  opened.  They  were  making  a  rush  for 
'em.  One  had  just  got  hold  of  his.  I  fired  the  revolver 
square  in  his  face,  and  he  dropped,  with  the  horriblest  gi*oan 
ever  I  heard  in  my  life.  That  struck  terror  into  the  rest. 
'  The  first  that  touches  a  gun  is  a  dead  man  ! '  says  I.  Then 
I  shouted,  as  if  giving  orders  to  a  dozen  men  outside, 
'  Guard  the  passages  !  Shoot  the  first  one  that  goes  out  or 
in!  Take  these  guns,  one  of  you!'  —  I  took  them,  and 
handed  them  out,  as  if  to  some  one  in  the  hall,  but  only  just 
set  them  agin  the  wall,  out  of  their  reach,  you  know.  By 
this  time,  the  jailer's  fiimily  seemed  to  be  screaming  all  over 
the  house.  I  knew  the  town  must  be  getting  alarmed;  and 
I  looked  with  pretty  considerable  interest,  you  may  believe, 
to  see  what  luck  Cy  was  having.     At  last  he  came,  and  the 


OLD    COMRADES.  243 

boys  with  him,  and  the  jailer,  white  as  a  sheet,  carrying  the 
lantern  and  keys.  But  Cy  must  tell  the  rest."  And  Jake 
sank  down  again. 

"  Joel  found  a  hatchet  in  the  jail.  Four  more  of  our 
boys  were  armed  in  a  moment  with  the  guns  Jake  had  cap- 
tured ;  and,  two  minutes  later,  his  prisoners,  and  the  jailer 
himself,  were  locked  up  with  the  one  we  had  brought  in. 
Then  we  started  :  and  it  was  high  time ;  for  the  lown  was 
wakmg  up,  the  fire-bells  were  ringing,  and  we  could  see  men 
runnino-.  Then  commenced  the  famous  retreat  of  our  forces. 
Josiah  "Williams  was  so  badly  wounded,  we  were  obliged  to 
leave  him  behind  at  the  jail.  Another  of  the  wounded  men, 
Cale  Hobbs,  gave  up  before  we  had  got  forty  rods,  and 
was  retaken.  We  couldn't  help  scattering  a  little  in  the 
dark ;  for  not  one  of  us  knew  the  country  :  and  when  we 
rallied,  a  mile  or  so  out  of  the  village,  two  more  men  were 
missing.  We  have  lost  one  since  :  he  went  out  on  a  scout, 
and  to  bring  in  provisions,  and,  I  suppose,  got  captured.  We 
have  been  hunted  like  foxes ;  but,  like  foxes,  we  have  kept 
to  the  woods  and  hills.  We  have  hid  in  bushes  and  rocks 
and  hollow  trees  by  day,  and  travelled  by  night.  When  we 
couldn't  stand  starvation  any  longer,  Jake  and  I,  or  some- 
body else  in  our  secesh  uniform,  would  go  to  a  solitary  farm- 
house, pass  for  rebel  soldiers  di'unk  and  reckless,  and  ask  for 


2-44  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

proTisions ;  wMcli  nobody  ever  dared  refuse.  But  this  is  a 
dangerous  trick,  and  we  have  resorted  to  it  as  rarely  as  pos- 
sible. "We  have  seen  hardships ;  but,  on  the  whole,  we  con- 
sider that  we  have  been  very  fortunate.  TTe  have  lost  but 
three  of  the  guns  we  captured ;  and  the  thi-ee  we  have  left 
are  all  we  have  wanted  to  cany.  It  would  be  too  long  a 
story  to  tell  all  our  adventui'es  now ;  and  I'm  afraid  we  are 
not  in  a  very  safe  place  here." 

"  There's  some  grand  good  bushes  to  hide  in,  just  over 
that  knoll,"  said  old  Joel.  "  There's  a  ravine  there,  and  a 
brook  i-uns  throuo-h  it :  and  there's  first-rate  thickets  both 
sides.  We  can  get  water  there  too.  There's  a  long,  bare 
hiU  t'other  side  of  the  ravine ;  but  that  ain't  no  objection : 
nobody  can  see  us  if  we  keep  in  the  bush ;  but  we  can  see 
if  anybody  is  coming  from  that  direction  better 'n  as  if  'twas 
all  woods.     I  move  we  adjourn  to  the  ravine." 

The  motion  was  carried  ;  Fred's  objection,  on  the  ground 
that  Daniels  was  to  return  for  him  to  that  spot  in  the  after- 
noon, being  disposed  of  by  Cy,  who  said,  "  In  the  afternoon, 
one  of  us  will  be  here  to  meet  him." 


THE    MAN    IN    THE    CASK.  245 


XXIV. 

THE  MAN  IN   THE    CASK. 

HE  party  removed,  with  suitable  precautions,  to 
the  ravine.  There  Fred  and  his  old  comrades 
talked  over  their  adventures,  or  spent  the  fore- 
noon in  sleep.  After  dinner,  at  which  they  finished  the  con- 
tents of  the  saddle-bags,  one  of  the  company  borrowed  Fred's 
hat  and  butternut  coat,  and  returned  to  the  rendezvous  where 
Daniels  was  expected. 

Two  hours  elapsed ;  at  the  end  of  which  time,  old  Joel,  who 
kept  watch  on  the  side  of  the  hill-slope,  announced  a  dis- 
covery. The  boys  all  crept  up  to  the  edge  of  the  bushes 
fringing  the  ravine  to  see  what  it  was. 

"  It's  the  curi'sest  thing  :  I  don't  understand  it !  "  said 
Joel.     "  They're  rolUng  something  to  the  tip-top  of  the  hill." 

"It's  a  cask  o'  whiskey,"  said  Jake.  "They're  going 
up  there  to  have  a  drink.     I  wish  the  cask  would  get  away, 

21* 


246  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

and  roll  towards  some  good  thirsty  fellows  in  a  ravine  I  know 
ofl" 

"The  cask  is  empty,"  said  Cy,  "I  know,  by  the  way 
that  chap  kicks  it  along  the  ground.  Keep  quiet,  boys,  or 
we  may  have  trouble." 

"  They  ain't  but  four  o'  them,  and  there's  six  of  us,"  said 
Joel,  flouiishing  his  hatchet.  ,"If't  only  was  whiskey, 
'twould  be  worth  the  resk  of  capturing,  I  say." 

**  One  of  the  men  is  a  prisoner!  "  said  Fred.  "Don't 
you  see  ?     They're  putting  him  into  the  cask  !  " 

"So  they  be  I  "  said  Joel.  "See  him  squirm:  he's 
pleading  with  'em  not  to ;  but  down  he  goes  into  it,  head 
fust,  by  time  !  " 

"It  seems  to  me,  I  know  that  man  !  "  murmured  Fred. 
But  he  wasn't  sure. 

"Hear  'em  swear  at  him  !  See  'em  jam  his  legs  ini" 
said  Jake.     "  They're  heading  of  him  up,  I  swow  !  " 

"  It's  some  Union  man  :  this  is  the  way  they  treat  Uaion 
men  in  this  cui-sed  country  !  "  said  Cy,  his  eyes  glittering 
with  excitement.     "  It's  hard  to  stand  and  see  that !  " 

"If  ye  can't  stand  it,  lie  down,  then,"  said  old  Joel. 
"  We  can't  afford  to  interfere  :  there  may  be  twenty  more 
secesh  jest  over  the  hill." 

"Joel  believes  in  non-intervention,  when  there's  only  a 


THE    MAN    IN    THE    CASK.  247 

barrelled-up  Union  man  in  question,"  said  Fred.  "  But  he 
was  for  pitching  in  when  he  thought  'twas  a  cask  of  whis- 
ke^" 

**  Biile  me  for  a  mackerel,  if  they  ain't  going  to  roll  the 
poor  de^dl  down  hill !  "  ejaculated  Jake. 

"K  they  do,  the  slant  is  this  way,  and  the  barrel  will 
come  straight  to  us  !  "  said  Joel.  "  The  place  is  gittin'  too 
hot  for  us.     I  move  that  we  adjourn." 

Nobody  seconded  this  motion;  but  Cy  said,  authorita- 
tively, — 

"  Keep  still !  If  he  comes  near  us,  and  they  follow,  some- 
thing may  occur  to  surprise  'em  !  You  may  have  a  chance 
to  use  that  hatchet  of  yours,  Joel,  on  a  secesh  head.  Be 
ready  for  emergencies,  boys  !     The  thing  is  coming  !  " 

The  three  men  who  had  barrelled  up  the  fourth  now  pro- 
ceeded to  send  him  on  his  unwilling  journey.  With  laugh- 
ter and  oaths  and  brutal  jests,  they  tumbled  the  cask  over 
on  its  side,  not  gently  by  any  means,  and  kicked  it  violently 
to  the  brow  of  the  long  slope.  Then  they  adjusted  it  for  the 
descent,  and  gave  it  a  final  push.  It  rolled  a  few  yards, 
and,  turning  endwise,  stopped,  notwithstanding  their  loud, 
wild  cheers.  Then  they  went  at  it  again  ;  and,  havmg  now 
reached  a  point  of  more  rapid  descent,  set  it  once  more  in 
motion,  with  brilliant  success.    The  cask  went  whirlinor  down 


248  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

tlie  slope,  bounding  and  leaping  like  a  living  thing  over 
hummocks  and  rocks,  and  uttering  smothered  shrieks  from 
the  voice  of  the  victim  within.  * 

The  cask  came  crashing  into  the  thicket  by  the  ravine, 
broke  through  the  fii'st  thin  bushes,  struck  a  stout  sapling, 
and  stopped  almost  within  arm's-length  of  Fred  and  Cy. 

The  creature  inside  was  groaning  dismally.  Cy  and  Jake 
grasped  the  cask,  hauled  it  a  little  farther  into  the  thick- 
et, and  set  it  up  on  end.  At  this  movement,  the  muffled 
groans  within  became  shrieks  for  mercy,  faintly  audible 
through  the  stout  hoops  and  staves. 

"  Oh,  don't !  I've  had  enough,  I've  had  enough  !  I'm 
bruised  to  a  pumace  a'ready  !  Bo  let  me  out,  —  do  !  and 
I  never'U  do  it  again,  —  never  !  " 

"  He's  a  cowardly  fool,  whoever  he  is  !  "  said  Cy.  "  But 
never  mind :  give  me  that  hatchet,  Joel !  Keep  a  look- 
out for  the  villains,  boys  !  " 

"  They've  gone  back  to  the  top  of  the  hill.  By  time, 
they're  going  away  !  "  said  old  Joel. 

*'  They'll  go  and  take  a  drink,"  said  Fred  ;  '•'  your  chiv- 
alrous Southern  gentlemen  always  do  on  such  occasions  : 
then  they'll  be  back  again." 

"  Meanwhile,"  said  Cy,  —  "  thus  !  "  — knocking  off  the 
lioops  that  had  just  been  driven  on.     Then  he  loosened  the 


THE    MAN    IX    THE    CASK.  249 

staves,  and  knocked  in  tlie  Head  upon  the  wretcli  crowded 
and  crammed  within  that  narrow  compass. 

'"  You've  got  him  wrong  end  up!  "  said  Fred. 

In  fact,  the  victim,  having  been  thrust  into  the  cask  head 
foremost,  was  destined  to  come  out  of  it  feet  foremost.  He 
straightened  his  legs  apart  in  the  air,  and  kicked  helplessly, 
his  head  on  the  bottom,  and  his  voice,  like  a  voice  in  a  well, 
entreating  to  be  taken  out. 

'*  Stop  your  noise,"  said  Cy,  ''  or  I'll  head  you  up  again  ! 
Don't  you  see  you  are  among  friends?     Now  get  out." 

He  turned  the  cask  down  on  its  side.  The  man's  legs 
were  already  out.  Then  his  hmd-quarters  emerged.  Next 
came  his  body,  crawling  slowly  backwards  like  a  crab. 
Lastly  appeared  the  head ;  and  the  head,  being  lifted-  up, 
revealed  the  most  ludicrous  expression  of  countenance  any 
present  ever  beheld.  It  was  a  miserable,  frightened,  blub- 
bering, bleeding  face ;  for  the  nose  of  it  had  suffered.  It 
was  the  face  of  the  meanest  and  most  despicable  man  in  the 
world,  — a  "  Northern  man  with  Southern  principles,"  —  a 
slave-catchino;  Yankee.     It  was  the  face  of  Enos  Crumlett. 


250  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


7^ 


xxv. 

3£R.  CRUMLETTS  SUBSTITUTE. 


THOUaHT  SO  !  "  said  Fred.    "  Cmmlett,  how 
are  you?  " 

Enos  attempted  to  rise,  but  reeled,  and  fell 
over.    He  recognized  Fred,  however. 

"  Pretty  sick,  thank  ye  !  Hold  me,  can't  ye  !  Stop  my 
whirlin'  !  " 

"  You  are  not  whii'ling  now,"  said  Cy,  supporting  him. 

*'  Ain't  I?  Then  every  thing  else  is  !  "  Enos  rolled  up 
his  eyes  at  his  preservers.  "How  swift  ye  go  round, — 
round  !  "     And,  closing  his  eyes,  he  gave  another  lurch. 

"You're  a  little  dizzy,  that's  all." 

'*  Wal,  I  be  some  dizzy,  I  guess  !  It's  kinder  struck  to 
my  stomach,  besides.  0  Tildy  !  who'd  ever  a  thought  ? 
Wliere  is  Carter  and  them  other  chaps  ?  If  they  hain't  gin 
me  a  dose  !  Nose  broke  !  —  darned  if  it  ain't  bleedin'  all 
over  my  Sunday  shu*t !     Shoulder  got  an  awful  wrench  ! 


MR.     CRUMLETT'S    SUBSTITUTE.  251 

Neck  jest  about  broke*!  Bmised  from  head  to  foot !  Jints 
—  never  suffered  so  in  my  jints  in  all  my  life  !  That  knee's 
out,  I  know  I  0  Tildy,  Tildy  !  "  —  winding  up  his  lamen- 
tation with  a  groan. 

"Keep  quiet!"  said  Cy.  "Come  down  to  the  water 
here,  and  wash;  then  you'll  feel  better." 

"  I  can't  move  a  step,  I'm  sich  a  jelly  !  " 

"  Then  we'll  have  to  leave  you  behind.  They'll  be  down 
here  looking  after  you  pretty  soon,  and  we  must  take  care 
of  ourselves." 

*'  Take  care  o'  me  too,  won't  ye  ?  I'll  give  ye  suthin'  if 
ye  will.  Don't  let  'em  git  holt  o'  me  agin.  I'm  loyal, 
ain't  I  ?  "  appealing  to  Fred. 

"  To  which  side  ?  "  demanded  Jake. 

"To  the  right  side,  —  to  the  Confederates,  of  course!" 
said  Enos,  perceiving  that  Jake  and  Cy  wore  the  rebel 
uniform. 

"  To  the  Confederates,  you  villain  !  "  —  "  You  traitor  !  " 
x\nd  the  bluecoats,  hidden  hitherto  by  the  bushes,  came  around 
him. 

"  I  mean,  to  the  Union  !  "  gasped  Enos.  Then,  glancing 
again  at  the  rebel  uniforms,  and  seeing  how  wrathful  their 
wearers  looked,  his  wits  fell  into  inextricable  confusion.  "  I 
mean  the  —  the  —  both  sides  !  I'm  loyal  to  both  !  that  is, 
to  neither  !    I'm  neuter  :  ask  him  if  I  ain't !  " 


252  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Again  appealed  to,  Fred  explained  Mr.  Cnimlett's  posi- 
tion :  "  He's  a  man  without  amj  principles." 

*'  That's  it,  — that's  jest  my  ease  !  "  said  Enos  eagerly. 
**  I  hain't  no  principles,  —  not  a  darn'd  one  !  " 

Fred  lauo-hed.  He  rather  pitied  the  poor  wretch.  He 
had  not  yet  heard  of  his  treachery  towards  Pomp.  He  only 
knew  that  Pomp  had  got  away,  and  canied  Bodson  with 
him.  Accordingly,  he  gave  the  best  account  he  could  of 
Crumlett's  embarrassing  situation,  as  a  Northern  man  com- 
pelled to  profess  allegiance  to  the  Confederate  despotism. 
Enos  was  as  grateful  for  these  kind  words  as  it  is  possible  for 
a  mean  spirit  to  be,  and  he  entreated  Fred  not  to  suffer  him 
to  be  again  abandoned  to  his  enemies. 

"It  all  comes  o'  that  mis'ble  spec'lation,  —  the  nigger 
spec'lation,  ye  know.  The  nigger  got  away  that  night,  and 
that's  the  last  I've  seen  of  him.  But  some  secesh  from 
Nashville  brought  word  to  Carter  how  'twas, — that  Bodson 
was  took  up,  and  the  old  man,  and  that  this  was  the  very 
nigger  they'd  lost.  He  says  nothin'  to  me ;  but  he  comes  to 
our  house  when  I'm  away,  and  gits  it  all  out  of  Tildy,  every 
bit.  Darn  the  women !"  said  Enos:  "they  can't  keep  a 
secret  no  more'n  a  fool !  Wal,  he  said  nothin',  but  por- 
tended friendship,  and  said  he  wanted  to  see  me  on  pa'tic'lar 
business,  —  about  a  spec'lation  that  would  make  up  all  losses 

V 


X 


MB.     CRUMLETT'S    SUBSTITUTE.  253 

to  both  on  us.  When  I  come  home,  and  she  told  me  the  fust 
part  about  the  spec'lation,  —  for  she  put  that  fust,  —  I  was 
nat'rally  int 'rested ;  but,  when  she  told  me  the  rest,  I  allow 
it  riled  me  :  we  had  the  all-fii'edest  flareup,  and  I  left  the 
house." 

"  Separated,"  suggested  Fred.  '*  Here's  old  Joel :  he 
will  sympathize  with  you.  He  and  his  wife  have  separated 
several  hundred  times,  I  beheve,  and  come  together  again." 

"  What  a  feller  you  be  to  set  out  a  story !  "  said  old  Joel. 

*'  Wal,  it  never  went  quite  so  fur  with  me  and  Tildy 
afore,"  said  Enos  ruefully.  "I  s'pose  I  was  jest  the  least 
might  hasty ;  but  then  she  was  so  terrible  provokin' !  I  slipped 
on  my  Sunday  shirt,  and  told  her  I  never'd  come  back  agin, 
in  the  world  ;  but  I'd  no  notion  my  words  was  so  likely  to 
prove  true."  And  with  a  remorseful,  despairing  sigh,  he 
felt  of  his  broken  nose. 

"  So  you  haven't  been  back  to  her  ?  " 

"No;  and  the  worst  on't  is,  I'm  afraid  I  never  shall. 
0  Tildy,  Tildy!"  Mr.  Crumlett  forgot  his  dignity  so 
far,  even,  as  to  snivel.  "Little  did  I  think,  little  did  I 
think  !  That  was  'arly  this  mornin';  and  she,  of  course,  ex- 
pected I'd  be  back  agin  'fore  noon.  But  I  hadn't  got  over 
my  mad  fit,  when  I  met  Carter  in  a  buggy.  He  'peared  ter- 
rible friendly,  and  told  me  a  long  rigmarole  story  'bout  the 


254  THE  TnnEB  scouts. 

new  spec'lation.  I  was  sucked  in  for  once  in  my  life,  I  own ! 
I  thought  'twould  worry  Tildy  if  I  staid  away  till  night :  so 
as  Carter  wanted  me  to  git  in,  and  ride  with  him  to  see  two 
fiiends  of  his'n  that  he  said  would  advance  the  money,  I  got 
in,  and  never  'spected  the  trick,  thinkin'  what  a  capital 
chance  'twas  to  come  up  with  Tildy,  and  make  suthin'  at  the 
same  time,  till  about  an  hour  ago.  We  kep'  ridin'  and  ridin', 
till  bime  by  we  found  his  two  friends ;  and  the  way  they  ad- 
vanced the  money  was  a  caution  to  narvous  chaps  like  me  !  " 
said  Enos  with  a  wild  expression.  "  They  dragged  me  to 
the  hill,  and  barrelled  me  up ;  pashin'  and  punchin'  me  in 
head  fust,  without  no  more  feelin'  for  back-bone  ^nd  knee- 
pans  than  as  if  I'd  been  a  dead  calf,"  — 
"Instead  of  a  live  one,"  put  in  Fred. 
"  Come,  come  !  "  said  Cy,  cutting  the  story  shoi-t^  "we 
know  the  rest.  The  question  now  is,  Wbat's  to  be  done  ? 
You  can  share  our  fortunes,  if  you  like ;  but  they're  des- 
perate, I'll  tell  you  to  begin  with." 

"  I  think  you'd  better  go  back  to  your  family,  Mr.  Crum- 
lett,"  said  Fred. 

"It's  too  late  for  that!"  Enos  whunpered  miserably. 
"  They  told  me,  'fore  they  spun  me  down  hill,  that  was  only 
the  beginnin'  of  my  spec'lations  ;  and  't  after  they'd  got 
through  wltii  me  I'd  got  to  go  into  the  army,  whether  or  no. 


ME.     CRUMLETT'S    SUBSTITUTE.  255 

I  can't  do  that :  I  can't  fight ;  I've  got  rehgious  scruples 
agin  it." 

**  How  many  scruples  of  that  kind  does  it  take  to  make  a 
dram?  "  asked  Jake,  amid  the  derisive  laughter  Crumlett'a 
ludicrous  apology  for  his  cowardice  called  forth. 

"I  thought  you  hadn't  any  principles,"  said  Fred. 

"Political  principles,  I  meant :  I  hain't  got  nary  one  of 
that  kind.  But  I'm  a  moral  man:  I  —  I — try  to  be  a 
religious  man." 

"1  respect  religion,"  said  Cy  grimly;  "but,  if  there's 
any  thing  I  detest,  it's  pretence  and  cant !  To  see  a  low- 
minded,  sneaking,  cheating  scamp  draw  down  the  corners  of 
his  mouth,  and  talk  pious,  just  for  a  cloak,  when  he  has  no 
more  religion  in  his  heart  than  this  rebel  musket  has,  —  it 
makes  me  sick  I  " 

Fortunately  for  Enos,  he  had  not  told  that  part  of  his 
negro  speculation  which  was  least  creditable  to  his  moral  char- 
acter ;  else  it  is  probable  that  this  nauseating  bit  of  cant 
would  have  provoked  the  boys  to  head  him  up  again  in  the 
cask,  and  leave  him  to  his  fate. 

Just  then,  one  of  the  men  left  to  watch  the  hillside  re- 
ported a  movement. 

**  They're  coming  back,"  said  Cy,  "  after  you  again,  — you 
man  with  religious  scruples  !     They've  probably  got  all  the 


256  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

liquor  aboai'd  they  can  carry,  and  they'll  miss  their  play- 
thing." 

"  I  ain't  then*  plaything  !  Don't  leave  me  in  their  clutch- 
es !  "  exclaimed  Enos,  starting  to  his  feet,  forgetful,  in  his 
tremor,  of  his  dislocated  joints  and  his  bruises.  "  Stand  by 
me,  won't  ye  ?  "  fawning  upon  Fred.  "  I  did  by  you,  ye 
know." 

"  There's  only  one  of  'em  in  sight,"  said  old  Joel. 

"It  is  Carter,"  said  Fred.  "  He's  coming  to  take  a  pri- 
vate look  at  Crumlett's  interesting  case,  while  the  others  are 
hghting  their  pipes." 

"Alone,  is  he?"  said  Jake,  rousing  up.  "I'll  toll  ye 
what  we'll  do,  boys.  Glet  down  farther  into  the  ravine,  all 
but  me  and  Cy  :  we'll  stay  and  watch.  Mabby  something 
funny '11  come  of  it." 

Smoking  a  thick  cigar,  and  staggering  slightly  with  in- 
toxication. Carter  came  sauntering  leisurely  down  the  hill. 
He  could  soon  be  heard  muttering  to  himself,  as  he  ap- 
proached the  spot  where  the  cask  liad  lodged,  and  Jake  and 
Cy  lay  in  ambush.  As  he  kept  the  cigar  in  his  mouth,  only 
now  and  then  a  word  of  Irs  thick  talk  could  be  distinguished. 

"  Fooling  Southern  gentlemen  —  cussed  Yankee  —  learn 
hun  manners — wus'n  any  nigger,"  &c.,  with  a  large  admix- 
ture of  profanity. 


MR.     CRUMLETT'S    SUBSTITUTE.  257 

At  last,  he  saw  tlie  bottom  of  the  cask  sticking  up. 

"How  do  ye  fancy  the  spec'lation ? "  he  called  to  Enos, 
supposed  to  be  still  inside.     "Going  to  give  ye  another  roll      ' 
soon,  jollier  nor  that.     Ye  dead  in  thar?     Why  don't  ye 
make  a  row?"     He  kicked  the  cask.      To  his  astonish- 
ment, it  sounded  empty  and  open. 

"Grot  out?  "  he  exclaimed  with  disappointment  and  rage, 
bending  forward  to  examine  the  open  end,  shielded  by  the 
bushes. 

He  was  so  intent  on  looking  for  his  victim,  that  he  did  not 
see  the  but-end  of  a  musket  that  had  been  quietly  pushed 
through  the  thicket,  a  minute  before,  towards  the  very  spot 
where  his  head  was  expected  soon  to  be.  Seeing  the  cask 
open,  and  his  victim  gone,  he  looked  around  suddenly,  and 
perceived  two  men  lying  low  in  the  bushes.  He  was  staring 
stupidly  at  them,  wondering  if  there  was  really  more  than 
one  man,  —  for  he  was  in  that  condition  in  which  he  some- 
times saw  double,  —  and  trying  to  make  out  whether  they 
were  the  men  he  sought,  when  the  said  musket  was  sud- 
denly pushed  forward  still  farther  in  the  same  direction. 
Something  struck  his  head ;  it  was  the  but  of  the  gun : 
although,  from  the  vivid  flash  of  light  which  he  saw,  he  was 
afterwards  inclined  to  think  he  received  a  discharge  from 
the  muzzle. 

22* 


258  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

The  viyid  flash  was  the  result  of  a  violent  collision  be- 
tween the  musket  and  his  cranium.  He  di'opped  as  if  he 
had  indeed  been  shot ;  and,  before  he  could  recover  his  feet 
or  his  wits,  he  was  seized,  and  thrust  head-foremost,  Crum- 
lett-fashion,  into  the  cask.  His  legs  were  crowded  in  after 
his  body,  without  much  ceremony.  He  set  up  a  hoarse  bel- 
lowing for  help ;  to  stop  which,  and  also  to  induce  him  to 
forbear  kicking  the  pieces  of  the  head  away  as  Jake  endeav- 
ored to  adjust  them,  Cy  found  it  necessary  to  prick  him 
gently  with  the  bayonet.  Thus  admonished,  the  kidnapper 
V  became  reluctantly  quiet,  and  was  headed  up  in  the  most 
rapid  and  scientific  manner  by  the  accomplished  Jake. 

"Drive  the  hoops  on  tight!"  said  the  delighted  Enos, 
coming  from  the  ravine  as  soon  as  he  saw  his  enemy  secured. 
"He  can't  git  out!  he  can't  git  out!  It's  an  almighty 
stout  cask ;  and  a  fellow  stuffed  in  in  that  shape,  as  you'd 
stuff  a  sassidge,  can't  get  no  purchase  with  his  legs.  Goes 
to  push,  he  breaks  his  neck,  ye  see.     I  tried  it." 

All  this  time,  the  drunken  kidnapper  was  struggling  and 
roaring  for  help.  But  his  struggles  only  caused  the  cask 
to  wriggle  a  little ;  and  his  roars  were  rendered  exceedingly 
small  by  the  aperture  through  which  they  came.  The  bung- 
hole  had  been  left  open  to  admit  the  little  air  necessary  to 
presorve  life.     Enos  put  his  ear  to  it. 


MB.    CRUMLETT'S    SUBSTITUTE.  259 

"  I'm  dying !  "  said  the  buried  voice. 

''That's  it!"  said  Enos,  hopping  with  delight.  "I 
thought  I  was  too  !     I  thought  so  too  !  " 

*'  My  neck  —  my  neck  is  broke  !  "  gasped  the  bung-hole. 

*'  So  was  mine !  so  was  mine ! "  And  Mr.  Crumlett 
wiithed  with  vindictive  joy. 

"  Oh,  my  back !  "  groaned  the  man  in  the  cask. 

*"Tis  hard  on  the  back !  I  can  swear  to  that :  I  can 
take  oath  to  the  back-breakmg  !  "  chuckled  he  who  had  been 
in,  but  was  now  out. 

"  I  smother  !  I  can't  breathe  !  " 

*'I  know!  I  know!  You'll  smother  more  bime  by! 
I  did.  But  ye  hain't  been  rolled  yit.  The  roUin'  's  the 
best  part  on't.     I  want  to  see  ye  rolled  !  " 

Enos  was  so  excited,  that  he  quite  forgot  the  danger  with 
which  the  rare  fun  was  accompanied.  Cy,  although  laugh- 
ing convulsively  himself  the  while,  felt  obliged  to  restrain 
him. 

"  The  other  two'll  be  here  soon.  Get  down  into  the  ra- 
vine again,  boys.  Jake  and  I'll  stick  by,  and  knock  'em 
softly  on  the  head,  if  necessary." 

Just  then,  shouts  were  heard  on  the  hill-top.  "  There  they 
are  !  "  said  Fred.  But,  instead  of  two  rebels,  there  were  a 
dozen.     A  rumor  of  the  sport  with  which  Carter  was  treating 


260  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

his  friends  had  got  abroad,  and  the  chivahy  were  flocking  to 
see  a  Yankee  rolled  down  hill  in  a  cask.  Several  were  in 
uniform,  and  carried  guns. 

"Here's  a  scrape!"  whispered  Cy.  "Hide,  and  keep 
as  still  as  death  !  " 

The  rebels  came  rushing  down  the  hill  with  yells  and 
laughter;  one  shouting,  "  Whar's  Carter?  Whar's  he  tuk 
hunselfto?" 

"  Never  ye  mind  Carter  !  "  cried  another.     "  Here's  the 

cask,  with  the  Yankee  in  it^  by  !      Hear  him  take 

on!" 

"  Lay  hold  here  !  "  said  another;  and  they  tumbled  the 
cask  over  and  over,  getting  it  up  from  the  ravine. 

Poor  Carter  shrieked  and  swore  ;  but  his  voice  was  so 
muflled,  that  nobody  recognized  it. 

'*  It's  me  I  "  he  screamed. 

"Yes,  wc  know  it's  you, — you  damned  Yankee  specu- 
lator!" 

•'  It's  me  !  —  Carter  !  Carter  !  " 

"  He's  calhng  Carter  !  "  And  the  rebels  gave  vent  to  a 
chorus  of  laughter.  "But  why  ain't  Carter  on  hand?" 
some  one  asked  again. 

!*  Oh  !  he's  gone  for  more  whiskey :  the  more  company,  the 
more  liquor.  Le's  heave  the  cask  to  the  top  o'  the  hill,  time 
he  gets  back." 


ME.    CRUMLETT'S    SUBSTITtJTE.  261 

"  I'm  Garter  !  "  said  tlie  voice  within  as  the  tumbled  cask 
revolved. 

**  What  does  he  say?" 

"  He  says,  '  Damn  Carter  ! '"  And  agam  the  mob  guf- 
fawed. 

"  You  idiots  !  you  fools  !  Oh,  cui'se  you !  "  And  the  en- 
raged kidnapper,  finding  that  he  could  not  get  a  hearing,  ut- 
tered shrieks  and  oaths. 

But,  by  the  time  he  had  been  pitched  and  kicked  to  the  top 
of  the  hill,  even  those  had  become  too  faint  to  have  any  other 
effect  than  to  amuse  his  persecutors.  Half  dead  from  suffo- 
cation, and  the  terrible  whirling,  jamming,  and  jolting,  now 
round  and  round,  and  now  heels  over  head,  he  had  given  up  at 
last  in  utter  exhaustion  and  despair.  Even  when  he  had 
reached  the  summit,  hi^  friends  allowed  him  no  peace.  They 
kept  up  an  incessant  clamor  around  him,  —  riding  the  cask, 
drumming  on  it  with  stones  to  the  tune  of  "  Yankee  Doodle," 
and  now  and  then  —  just  to  prevent  him  inside  from  going  to 
sleep,  they  said  —  canting  it  along  the  ground,  or  hurling  it 
end  over  end. 


262 


THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


XXYI. 


A  STRANGE  MEETING, 


NFORTUNATELY,  two  of  the  chivalry  re- 
mained by  the  ravine  in  order  to  receive  the 
cask  when  it  should  come  down ;  and  their  pres- 
ence prevented  the  withdrawal  of  the  boys  from  their  danger- 
ous hiding-place. 

"  They're  waiting  for  Carter  to  come  with  the  whiskey  !  '* 
said  one. 

Indeed,  the  mob  just  then  set  up  a  shout  for  "  Carter,  Car- 
ter !  hurry  up !  we're  waiting  for  the  liquor  !  "  —  cries  which 
must  have  been  particularly  edifying  to  the  kidnapper  in  the 
cask. 

By  this  time,  the  two  rebels  by  the  ravine,  becoming  im- 
patient, set  out  to  climb  the  hill.  The  boys  were  just  creep- 
ing out  of  the  bushes,  when  Daniels  arrived  with  the  man 
who  was  sent  tO  meet  him. 

"  This  won't  do  !  "  he  said  sternly. 


A    STRANGE    MEETING.  263 

He  was  evidently  not  pleased  to  find  his  young  protege  in 
sucli  company.  He  helped  him  at  once  to  his  horse,  and 
directed  him  which  way  to  ride. 

**  Go  at  once :  I'll  follow  as  soon  as  I  have  spoken  with 
youi'  friends." 

So  saying,  he  started  the  horse  off  through  the  woods,  and 
then  descended  into  the  ravme  to  consult  with  Cy  and  the 
rest. 

WHlst  they  were  talking,  the  mob  at  the  top  of  the  hill, 
weary  of  waiting  for  Carter,  launched  the  cask.  It  came 
spinning  and  ratthng  down  the  slope  with  even  greater .  velo- 
city than  before ;  and,  striking  the  bushes,  tore  its  way  com- 
pletely thi'ough  them,  bumping  and  bounding  end  over  end 
amongst  the  stones  to  the  bottom  of  the  ravine. 

The  mob  came  rushing  after  too  closely  to  permit  the  party 
below  to  escape  from  the  spot  undiscovered. 

"  We  can  fight  the  cusses  !  "  said  Jake. 

"  Don't  you  think  of  it !  "  said  Daniels.  **  Within  a  mile 
there  are  three  thousand  Confederate  troops.  To  the  thick- 
ets!" 

The  boys  got  as  far  as  they  could  from  the  cask,  and  con- 
cealed themselves  just  as  the  rebels  came  yelling  and  crashing 
uito  the  ravine  in  pm'suit  of  their  victim. 

"Wonder  how  he  liked  that!"  whispered  Enos  with  a 


264  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

strange  mixture  of  terror  and  deligbt,  looking  down  at  the 
cask,  and  cono-ratulatino:  himself  that  it  was  not  his  bones 
inside. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  fugitives  to  wait  until  the  mob 
had  returned  with  the  cask  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  then  to 
beat  a  hasty  retreat.     But  this  was  thwarted  by  an  accident. 

The  bottom  of  the  cask,  striking  a  rock  as  it  plunged  into 
the  ravine,  had  been  stove  in.  The  skull  that  had  been 
packed  into  it,  had,  to  all  appearances,  been  likewise  broken. 
The  rebels  gave  a  howl  of  disgust  and  disappointment,  think- 
ing their  sport  spoiled  by  the  death  of  the  supposed  Yankee. 
They  drew  him  out  insensible,  like  a  chicken  out  of  a  broken 
egg-sheU.  His  countenance  was  so  bloody  and  disfigured, 
that  even  his  most  familiar  friends  did  not  recognize  it  until 
it  had  been  plunged  two  or  three  times  into  the  shallow  water 
of  the  brook. 

"  Bring  hun  to,  so's  to  have  the  fun  of  hanging  him,  if 
nothing  more!"  said  they, — a  remark  which  made  Mr. 
Crumlett  quake  horribly  in  his  hiding-place. 

"  Hold  on  !  "  suddenly  shouted  two  or  three  at  once. 
"  Carter  !  — it's  Carter  hunself !  " 

At  the  same  moment.  Carter,  gasping  a  little,  rolled  up 
his  eyes,  and  recognized  his  friends.  Then*  astonishment  was 
extreme.  How  came  he  in  the  cask?  Was  it  a  playful 
trick  of  his  ?     And  where  was  the  Yankee  ? 


A    STRANGE    MEETING.  265 

They  poured  brandy  down  tlie  throat  of  tbeir  friend,  wliom 
tbey  had  come  so  near  immolating  by  mistake. 

"It's  the  Yankee's  doings!"  shouted  furious  voices. 
"  Look  for  the  Yankee  !  " 

The  Yankee  heard,  and  his  soul  thrilled  with  mortal  fear 
as  he  shrank  into  the  bushes,  which  the  rebels  rushed  at  once 
to  search. 

Fred,  riding  over  an  inequality  of  the  gi'ound,  was  already 
out  of  sight.  He  looked  sharply  before  him,  at  first,  for  reb- 
els ;  but  soon  began  to  look  still  more  anxiously  behind  for 
his  friends.     The  sun  had  set :  twilight  was  deepening. 

Alarmed  at  the  delay,  he  checked  the  horse's  pace,  and 
was  riding  slowly  among  the  trees,  gazmg  back  over  his 
shoulder,  and  listening  to  the  distant  shouts,  when  a  singular 
incident  occurred. 

The  horse  stopped ;  and  Fred,  turning  quickly,  saw  stand- 
ing directly  in  the  path  before  him  the  form  of  a  man. 

The  appai'ition  was  startling.  For  an  instant,  Fred  half 
believed  it  was  a  ghost,  so  motionless  it  stood  there  in  the 
gloom.  But,  if  a  ghost  at  all,  it  was  that  of  a  friend,  not 
a  foe ;  a  very  sturdy,  stout  young  ghost :  and  it  smiled,  — 
a  broad,  beaming,  unmistakable  smile. 

"  Carl!  is  that  you  V" 

"Wery  certain, "  said  the  spectre,  advancing.  **And  is 
it  you?" 


266  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  I'm  not  so  certain,"  replied  Fred,  too  much  astonisbed 
to  believe  any  thing  real  just  then.  "Haven't  you  been 
hung?" 

"  Not  wery  much  !  "  Carl  shrugged  and  laughed.  "  I 
vas  not  tickled  vith  the  idee  to  be  hung  :   so  I  compromised." 

"  How  so  ?     How  did  you  get  away  ?  " 

"  Just  as  easy  as  twice  vun  is  two.  You  have  heard  how 
I  vas  took  up  for  a  shpy  and  deserter  ?  Yell,  it  vas  queer  ! 
And  they  vas  going  to  hang  me  so  fast !  but  py  and  py 
Colonel  Derrino;  comes  to  see  me.  It  vas  in  his  regiment  I 
vas  enlisted  for  a  rebel ;  and  I  see  it  vas  no  use  to  deny  that. 
So  I  gives  him  the  salute,  and  I  says,  *  Colonel,  this  is  wery 
pad  piziness  for  me  ! '  —  'So  bad,'  says  he,  '  your  neck  will 
be  stretched  for  it  to-morrow.'  And  I  says,  '  My  neck  vas 
never  so  long  as  a  goose-neck ;  but  it  is  long  enough  for  prac- 
tical purpose,  and  I  shall  be  glad  for  to  dispense  vith  the 
stretching  operation.'  Then  he  said  the  court-martial  vas 
going  to  set  on  me  in  vun  hour ;  and  I  said  I  vas  not  unan- 
imous to  be  set  on  py  anypody.  And  then  he  said,  '  Vat  a 
pity  I  should  turn  shpy, — a  vine  vellow  like  me  ! ' — '  Shpy ! ' 
says  I ;  and  I  opened  my  eyes  vide,  like  I  vas  astonished, 
till  I  sushpect  they  looked  like  two  pig  English  vatches. 
Veil,  to  be  prief,^I  conwince  him,  if  he  vill  go  see  my  friend 
the  Chew,  he  vill  learn  for  sure,  that,  if  I  vas  a  shpy  for  any- 


A    STRANGE    MEETIXG.  267 

pody,  it  vas  for  the  Conwhederates  ;  and,  if  I  vas  a  deserter, 
it  vas  pecause  I  vas  took  prisoner  first,  and  vas  afraid  to  go 
pack  to  his  regiment  after.  And  he  says,  '  Yould  I  go  pack 
to  the  regiment  now?'  and  I  says,  '  That  is  vat  I  should 
Lo  wery  dehghted  to  do.'  And  he  thinks  I  am  such  a  vine 
vellow  for  a  soldier,  and  such  a  innocent  young  Tuchman,  ye 
know !  So  he  sees  my  friend  the  Chew,  and  talks  it  over 
vith  the  court  that  vas  going  to  set  on  me  ;  and  it  vas  conclude 
I  should  be  put  pack  in  the  regiment.  But  the  regiment  vas 
moved  foiTards  to  the  left  centre  before  Murfreesborough. 
So  I  vas  put  unter  guard  of  a  rebel  this  afternoon,  to  be  sent 
vair  it  vas.  Now,  ven  it  vas  in  question  to  stretch  my  neck, 
I  vas  more  in  favor  to  join  the  regiment ;  but,  ven  it  come  to 
joining  the  regiment,  I  vas  more  in  favor  to  run  avay.  So  I 
says  to  my  rebel,  '  This  marching  is  such  try  piziness,  ve 
ought  to  find  something  goot  to  triuk.'  And  he  says,  '  I 
know  a  place  to  puy  viskey  ;  but  I  hain't  nary  bit  of  money  to 
pay.'  Wery  fortunate^  I  had  sold  all  my  goots,  and  had  a 
pocketful  of  money.  So  I  says  to  him,  if  he  vill  go  for  the 
viskey,  I  vill  pay  for  vun  pottle.  And  he  says,  '  You  vait 
here  vile  I  come  pack.'  And  I  sets  me  down  on  the  ground, 
and  says,  '  You  hurry  ;  for  I  vas  never  so  furious  for  viskey 
since  I  vas  a  poy  ! '  So  he  takes  the  money,  and  goes.  And 
then  I  forgets  to  vait  for  him  :  so  I  jumps  up  from  the  gi'ound, 


268  THE    TIIBEE    SCOUTS. 

and  goes  too,  —  in  woiy  much  the  wrong  direction  from  that 
he  vas  gone.  I  see  some  voods,  and  git  lost  in  'em  quicker 
as  vink.  And  here  I  vas  lost,  and  thinking  of  you  I  had 
left  vith  your  sprained  ankle  to  the  tawem,  and  vondering  vat 
I  should  do  for  you  and  for  me,  ven  I  sees  somepody  riding 
horseback,  and  it  vas  you  !  " 

Fred,  in  return,  related  his  own  adventui-es  since  they 
parted.  Great  was  the  joy  of  both  at  their  re-union.  Mean- 
while they  moved  on  to  a  secluded  hollow.  Fred  remained 
in  the  saddle  ;  Carl  sat  down  on  the  end  of  a  great  log  :  and 
thus  they  talked  and  waited,  while  the  gloom  of  the  woods 
deepened  around  them. 

Suddenly  a  rusthng  of  leaves  and.  bark  was  heard  beside 
the  log.  Carl  sj^rang  up  with  extraordinary  alacrity  for  one 
so  phlegmatic  as  he.  Noither  he  nor  his  friend  had  arms ; 
and  he  was  sure  there  was  a  man  under  him. 

He  was  right.  The  bark  of  the  log  hung  loosely  from  its 
side,  like  a  curtain :  it  shook,  then  lifted ;  and  out  from  im- 
der  it  rolled  a  human  fonn. 

It  was  a  young  man  with  sharp  Southern  features,  rifle  in 
hand.  He  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant.  His  garments  were 
torn  and  filthy,  his  hair  resembled  tlie  tangled  mane  of  a 
wild  colt,  and  the  expression  of  his  countenance  was  haggard 
and  r-avafre. 


A    STRANGE    MEETING.  269 

The  boys  know  not  what  to  make  of  him.  Was  he  a  spy, 
who  would  betray  them  ?  Although  armed,  he  made  no  hos- 
tile demonstration ;  but  on  the  contrary,  after  regarding  Fred 
fixedly  a  moment,  he  stepped  forward,  and_with  a  wan  smile 
offered  him  his  hand,  clamiing  i^cnuaintance. 

"You  have  got  the  start  of  me,"  said  Fred,  who  could 
not  remember  having  seen  him  before. 

"  That  coat  and  hat  —  whar  did  ye  get  them?  "  said  the 
young  man,  with  a  strange,  piercing  look. 

The  voice,  and  the  pertinent  allusion  to  his  disguise,  roused 
Fred's  recollection. 

"EUsmer!  But  they  said  you  were  bm-ned  up  in  the 
house !  " 

"  I  was  in  my  hole,"  said  the  conscript ;  and,  in  the  sup- 
pressed voice  of  one  who  has  suffered  until  there  is  nothing 
more  in  fate  for  him  to  fear  or  dread,  he  told  his  story. 

A  wing  of  the  Ellsmer  House  had  been  _  built  over  the 
Well,  making  a  sort  of  floorless  washroom  and  woodshed.  The 
guerillas,  hunting  for  the  conscript,  had  looked  into  the  well, 
of  course.  But,  between  the  wall  of  the  well  and  the  sur- 
roundmg  earth,  there  was  on  one  side  a  cavity  covered  by  the 
slabs  of  the  curb.  One  of  these  slabs  could  be  lifted ;  and 
the  conscript,  whenever  he  wished  to  conceal  himself,  had 
only  to  get  under  it.     This  was  his  "hole,"  which  nobody 

23* 


270  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

thought  of  penetrating  in  search  of  him.  He  was  in  it  when 
the  house  was  fired ;  and  would  soon  have  been  roasted,  or  at 
least  suffocated,  had  he  not  soon  discovered  his  danger,  and 
descended  into  the  well.  This  was  fortunately  free  from  nox- 
ious gases;  and  in  its  depths  he  actually  remained  while  the 
roof  was  burning  above  him,  and  fiery  cinders  were  show- 
ered down  upon  his  head  and  into  the  water. 

"  AVhat  a  terrible  situation!"  said  Fred.  "  I  should 
think  you  would  have  been  burned  to  death,  or  stifled,  as  it 
was." 

"I  kept  my  clothes  wet,"  said  the  conscript ;  "  and  the 
stifling  —  I  didn't  mind  that,  or  any  thing  else,  if  I  could 
only  live  to  shoot  one  more  rebel.  I  staid  about  the  old 
place  a  couple  of  days  :  but  I  found  the  scoundrels  had  left 
for  good  ;  and  finally  I  left  too.  I'm  just  hanging  around 
these  parts  for  revenge.  Whenever  I  see  a  cavalry-man,  I 
have  a  crack  at  him.  I've  knocked  two  over,  and  haven't 
been  ketched  nary  a  time  yet.  When  I  spied  you,  I  thought 
you  was  another,  and  came  nigh  sending  you  my  respects  in 
the  shape  of  a  bullet.  But  I'm  glad  to  meet  a  fiiend  again, 
—  glad  to  see  a  friendly  face  !  " 

Once  more  he  shook  Fred's  hand  ;  but  now  his  touch,  and 
the  glitter  of  his  eye,  made  the  boy  shudder.  His  suffer- 
ings had  unsettled  his  mind  ;  on  the  subject  of  being  re- 
venged on  his  enemies,  he  was  a  maniac. 


FLIGHT   AND    PURSUIT.  271 


XXVII. 

FLIGHT  AND  PURSUIT. 

AE-L,  ^ho  was  on  the  lookout,  announced  the 
approach  of  hurrying  footsteps.  Immediately 
after,  several  dark  forms  were  seen  speeding 
swiftly  through  the  dim  woods.  The  conscript  thought  he 
recognized  the  rebel  uniform ;  and,  dropping  beside  the  log, 
lay  in  wait,  taking  aim  across  it. 

''  Don't  shoot,  —  they  are  my  friends  !  "  said  Fred,  riding 
out  to  meet  them. 

The  fii-st  man  he  encountered  was  Crumlett.  Crumlett, 
when  there  was  danger  in  his  rear,  could  run  like  a  stag. 

"  What  is  the  matter?  "  demanded  Fred. 

"  We  ai-e  discovered;  that  is  the  matter,"  said  Cy  Thurs- 
ton coolly. 

"  And  pursued  !  "  said  old  Joel.     "  Who's  that  there  ?  " 

"  Friends  of  mine,"  said  Fred,—  "  Carl,  that  I  told  you 
about,  and  Ellsmer.     Where's  Daniels?" 


272  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

''The  deuse  knows  !  "  said  Jake,  bringing  up  the  rear  of 
the  retreating  party.  "  The  rebs  set  out  to  search  for  Crum- 
lett ;  and,  to  bluff  'em  off,  your  man  steps  out,  and  begins  a 
parley.  'Soon  as  I've  cleared  the  way  for  you,'  says  he  to 
us,  *  take  care  of  yourselves  and  the  boy  :  never  mind  me,' 
says  he.  So,  when  he  had  diverted  their  attention,  we  sturted, 
and  mio-ht  have  got  off  shck  enough  ;  but,  whilst  we  was 
slying  out  o'  the  bushes,  Cramlett,  finding  himself  ahead, 
and  meaning  to  take  care  o'  number  one,  no  matter  what 
'come  of  the  rest,  undertook  to  run,  and  stumbled  down  the 
ravine.  That  sp'ilt  it  all.  The  rebs  see  something  was  to 
pay,  and  pitched  into  us.  '  Show  'em  oiu-  heels  ! '  says  old 
Joel.  '  Show  'em  our  guns  fust ! '  says  Gy.  We  jest 
charged  out  on  'em  once;  and  you  should  have  seen  'em 
scatter!  That  give  us  the  start;  but  they'll  be  after 
us!" 

Jake  told  his  story,  trotting  beside  the  horse,  as  the  fugi- 
tives swept  Fred  and  his  companions  along  with  them  in  then- 
retreat. 

"  But  Daniels  —  we  can't  leave  him  !  "  exclaimed  Fred. 

"  We  must !  "  said  Cy.  "  All  he  seemed  to  care  for  was 
you;  and,  if  we  get  you  safe,  he'll  be  satisfied." 

"  Is  he  a  prisoner  ?  ' ' 

"Likely,  by  this  time:    though,  if  Crumlett  hadn't  be- 


FLIGHT    AND    PURSUIT.  273 

trayecl  us,  be  would  have  done  well  enough ;  for  be  was  fool- 
ing the  rebs  splendidly  !  " 

Just  then,  the  report  of  two  or  three  muskets  was  heard 
not  far  behind  them,  in  the  woods. 

"  Oh,  I  wish  we'd  left  Crumlett  in  the  cask!  "  groaned 
Fred. 

He  looked  behind,  filled  with  remorse  for  the  fate  of  his 
friend. 

"  ShaU  I  fire  ?     Is't  a  reb  ?     Can  you  see  ?  "  cried  Ells- 
mer,  dancing  ]jy  his  side  with  poised  rifle,  and  glancing  back 
at  some  object  in  the  woods. 

It  was  a  man  running  through  the  hollow  they  had  just 
cleared. 

"  No  !  wait !  It  is  Daniels,  —  Daniels  himself ! ' '  said  Fred, 
wild  with  joy. 

And  in  a  minute  his  benefactor  was  at  his  side. 

'*  All  right !  "  said  he.     "  Push  on,  push  on  !  " 

"  Was  it  you  they  fired  at  ?  " 

"  Yes  :  they  are  close  upon  us  !  " 

"  Will  you  mount?  " 

"  Not  yet,  if  you  can  rein  the  horse  among  the  trees. 
We  can  travel  faster  than  he  can  safely  ;  and  the  woods  are 
growing  thicker  ahead.  Take  care  you  don't  hit  your  head 
or -get  your  foot  rubbed  !  " 


274  '  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

The  darkness  increased,  the  woods  were  pathless,  and 
many  branches  gi-ew  so  low  as  to  imperil  continually  the 
rider's  face  and  limbs. 

"You  must  alight,  and  we  must  carry  you,"  said  Dan- 
iels. 

"  You  can't.  The  rebs  are  coming  up  the  hill  now,  and 
I  shall  hinder  you  so.  No,  no  ;  leave  me  behind  !  "  cried 
Fred. 

"  Scatter  and  hide  !  "  said  old  Joel.  "  They  can't  find 
us !  " 

"There'll  be  whole  regiments  on  our  track  in  an  hour," 
said  Daniels.  "  These  woods  will  be  surrounded,  and  re- 
treat cut  off  on  every  side.  Then  they'll  hunt  you  at  their 
leisure.  You  must  get  out  of  these  woods,  or  you  are 
lost!" 

Fred  was  obliged  to  dismount.  "Don't  carry  me,"  he 
said ;  "  but  just  help  me  a  little,  and  I  can  get  along  on  one 
foot."  But  that  was  slow  business.  Just  then,  the  rebels  in 
the  rear  fired  a  volley ;  and  the  balls  came  singing  and  tap- 
ping among  the  boughs,  close  above  then:  heads. 

"  Take  hold  here,  one  of  you  !  "  said  Daniels. 

Jake — "lazy"  Jake  no  longer  —  gave  his  gun  to 
another,  and  bounded  to  the  boy's  side.  "  Give  me  his 
head  and  shoulders  ;  you  carry  his  feet !  "  said  he  :  and  in- 


FLIGHT    AND    PURSUIT.  275 

stantly  Fred  found  Mmself  taken  up,  and  borne  througli  the 
undergrowth  in  the  arms  of  two  strono;  men.  Carl  followed, 
leading  the  horse,  in  order  to  preserve  him  for  future  emer- 
gencies. 

But  these  causes  of  delay  gave  the  pursuers  a  decided  ad- 
vantao-e.  They  were  coming  in  superior  numbers  over  the 
hill,  filing  occasionally.  Nobody  was  hit,  however ;  and,  as 
yet,  not  a  shot  had  been  returned. 

At"  length,  an  open  space  was  reached.  It  w«s  a  hundred 
yards  across ;  and,  before  the  fugitives  had  entered  the  woods 
on  the  opposite  side,  the  rebels  had  emerged  in  full  view, 
under  the  soft  light  of  the  twilight  sky.  Two  or  three  fired, 
this  time  with  clearer  sight  and  more  fatal  effect.  Fortu- 
nately, the  guns  of  the  rest  were  empty,  and  there  was  no 
time  to  reload.  One  ball  went  through  Cy's  clothes,  grazing 
his  side ;  another  struck  EUsmer's  leg,  shivering  the  bone 
just  below  the  knee. 

"  Give  'em  one  for  that ! "  said  Cy.  And  the  boys, 
rallying  on  the  edge  of  the  woods,  sent  back  a  sudden  and 
sharp  c?^ack,  crack,  crack  /  well  aimed,  blazing  out  of  the 
bushes,  and  checking  the  onset  of  their  pursuers  midway  in 
the  open  space. 

Up  to  this  time,  Ellsmer,  dissuaded  by  thti  command  of 
Daniels,  who  was  averse  to  fip;hting  an  overwhelming  force, 


276  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

had  refrained  from  firinG:  a  sliot.  13 ut  soon,  crawling  into  the 
bushes,  he  prepared  to  take  revenge.  He  refused  to  go  far- 
ther, and  told  the  rest  to  proceed  without  him. 

"  I  can  be  of  .use  here.  Never  mind  me  at  all,  but  make 
the  most  of  the  time  while  I'm  picking  off  two  or  three  of 
them  cowardly  cusses." 

Daniels  and  Jake  hurried  on  with  Fred.  Crumlett  was 
ahead,  of  course.  The  rest,  reluctantly  leaving  the  conscript 
to  his  fate,  followed  in  all  haste.  They  heard  the  report  of 
a  rifle  in  theh  rear,  repeated  several  times  at  inteiTals. 
That  rifle  was  Ellsmer's.  Bleeding,  crippled,  and  devoted  to 
certain  death,  he  coolly  charged  his  piece,  and  discharged  it 
again,  with  deliberate  aim,  whenever  an  enemy  appeared. 
The  rebels,  thinking'  the  whole  party  had  made  a  stand, 
retreated  to  the  cover  from  which  they  had  emerged,  bearing 
their  wounded  back  to  a  place  of  safety.  Twice  they  started 
forth  a^aiu,  confident  that  the  fu2;itives  had  resumed  their 
flight ;  and  were  again  and  again  driven  to  shelter  by  the 
accurate  firing  of  a  single  rifle.  Fearing  to  make  a  bold 
charge  upon  an  ambushed  enemy  of  unknown  strength,  they 
finally  made  a  wide  cii'cuit,  keeping  out  of  rifle-shot,  and 
entering  the  woods  on  Ellsmer's  left.  Perceiving  this  move- 
ment, he  crawled  out  into  the  open  space,  dragging  his 
maimed  limb  behind  him,  and  lay  flat  on  the  field,  until  they 


FLIGHT   AND    PURSUIT.  277 

re-appeared,  dashing  with  yells  at  the  spot  from  which  his 
shots  had  been  fired.  Once  more  his  rifle  rang.  The  rebels, 
discovering  no  enemy,  but  amazed  at  getting  a  shot  from  the 
rear,  stood  baffled  and  confused  a  moment,  then  rushed  upon 
their  victhn.  Several  gun-barrels  might  have  been  seen 
converging  at  a  figure  on  the  ground :  there  was  a  simulta- 
neous discharge,  accompanied  by  yells  of  rage ;  and  the  con- 
script received,  without  a  cry,  without  even  a  moan,  the 
death  he  did  not  fear. 

This  diversion  gained  for  the  fugitives  much  valuable  time. 
They  struck  a  bridle-road,  and  Fred  was  mounted  upon  the 
horse.  But  soon  the  animal's  pace  began  to  flag  unaccounta- 
bly, even  with  smooth  ground  under  his  feet. 

"He  staggers  !  "  said  Fred. 
•   "  He  has  been  shot !  "  added  Daniels  in  his  usually  calm 
voice.     '*  The  poor  brute  is  bleeding  to  death  ! " 

"  Oh,  what  a  misfortune  !  "  And  Fred  slipped  oiF  into 
the  arms  of  his  friends. 

The  animal  was  driven  into  the  bushes,  and  tui-ned  loose  to 
die.  Then  Daniels  called  a  council  of  the  fugitives.  The 
bridle-path  ran  in  a  northerly  direction ;  and  their  course,  up 
to  the  moment  of  striking  it,  had  been  nearly  north-west. 
But  now  he  proposed  a  change. 

"  You  can't  hope  to  escape  directly  through  the  Confcder- 

24 


278  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

ate  lines,  now  that  you  are  discovered  and  hunted.  Besides, 
you  will  be  looked  for  in  this  direction.  The  shortest  way 
will  prove  the  longest  way.  Bragg's  lines  extend  from  the 
Lebanon  pike  to  Franklin.  Hardee  commands  the  left ;  and 
you  must  get  around  him,  somehow  :  it  is  your  best  chance. 
Forrest's  cavalry  covers  his  flank,  and  may  give  you  trouble. 
But,  if  you  attempt  a  shorter  cut  to  Nashville,  you  will  find 
Wharton  at  Nolensville,  and  Wheeler  at  Lavergne,  and  their 
videttes  stretching  across  the  country,  not  to  speak  of  infant- 
ry camps  and  pickets  to  be  encountered  everywhere." 

"  What,  then,  do  you  advise  ?  " 

"  A  straight  cut  westward.  That  will  throw  your  pur- 
suers oflf  your  track.  You  will  soon  strike  some  of  the 
tributaries  of  Harpath  Biver.  The  face  of  the  country  will 
favor  your  escape.  But  keep  well  to  the  westward  :  cross 
the  pike  and  the  railroad  considerably  south  of  Franklin ; 
then  make  a  wide  circuit  towards  the  Charlotte  pike." 

"You  talk  as  though  we  knowed  the  country,"  said  old 
Joel;  '^and  there  ain't  a  darned  one  of  us  knows  a  foot 
on't."  '"^ 

^**  If  you  accept  my  plan,  I  shall  go  with  you  as  far  as  you 
need  ^ guide."  ij 

"  Agreed  !  "  said  Cy,  speaking  for  the  rest. 

"  Well,  therei  s  no  time  to  lose  !  "  And  the  retreat,  after 
this  brief  breathing-space,  was  resumed  with  fresh  vigor. 


THE    DISCOVERT.  279 


xxvin. 

THE    DISCOVERY. 

LLSMER'S  devotion  had  saved  tbe  little  band 
of  fugitives  from  the  harassing  attacks  of  a 
closely  pursuing  foe.  As  rapidly  as  possible, 
and  as  silently  as  possible,  they  threaded  the  mazes  of 
the  tangled  woods.  The  evening  was  cold,  gusty,  and 
cloudy.  The  moon  had  not  yet  risen  ;  and  soon  the  last  gleam 
of  twilight  had  faded,  and  darkness  enveloped  the  forest. 

"  How  that  man  knows  which  way  he's  travellin',  when  ye 
can  skurcely  see  your  hand  'fore  yer  face,  beats  all  my  cal'c'- 
lations  !  "  said  old  Joel. 

"  0  Tildy,  Tildy  !  "  groaned  Enos  Crumlett  ever  and 
anon. 

"  May  be  it's  all  right,"  said  Jake,  who  preferred  the  ex- 
citement of  danger  to  long  and  tedious  travel ;  "  but  I  be 
hanged  if  I  exac'ly  fancy  this  going  the  longest  way  roynd." 

"Moon  rises  at  about  half-past  eight,  boys,"  said  Cy. 
'"Twill  be  all  right  then  !  " 


280  .     THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

The  coolness,  decision,  and  quiet,  silent  power,  wliicli  dis- 
tinguished the  guide,  inspired  all  with  a  certain  confidence. 
He  said  but  little ;  he  shrank  from  no  difficulties ;  and  he 
marched  like  one  inured  to  hardships,  and  accustomed  to  find- 
ing his  way  in  the  darkest  night. 

He  never  left  Fred's  side.  Others  might  become  weaiy 
of  bearing  their  share  of  the  burden,  but  not  he.  "I'll 
take  him  now,"  he  would  say,  as  soon  as  those  supporting 
him  began  to  flag;  and  his  voice,  whenever  he  spoke,  was  so 
calm  and  cheerful,  that  nobody  seemed  to  suspect  that  he 
could  ever  tire. 

And  Fred  —  what  a  night  it  was  to  him  !  How  bitterly 
he  regretted  his  untimely  lameness,  which  made  him  a  bur- 
den to  his  friends!  "I'd  give  my  three-years'  pay,"  he 
said,  "  for  two  good  legs  to-night !  " 

Assured  that  their  pursuers  had  been  baffled,  the  fugitives 
fell  into  a  more  leisurely  pace,  and  avoided  the  woods  which 
had  proved  so  essential  to  their  safety  before.  The  darkness 
made  progress  through  those  trackless  wilds  terribly  toil- 
some antl  painful ;  but  it  favored  their  flight  through  by-roads 
and  fields.  Fred,  who  had  long  insisted  on  using,  at  least, 
the  one  sound  limb  that  remafned  to  him,  was  now  and  then 
permitted  to  support  himself  with  his  cane,  and,  with  Daniels 
at  hir>  side,  hobble  a  little. 


THE    DISCOVERT.  281 

Notwitlistanding  the  pain  be  sufFerecl  and  his  comparative 
helplessness,  and  the  danger  that  encompassed  them,  he  was 
happy,  as  gratitude  and  love  make  ns  happy.  His  heart 
overflowed,  and  he  talked  extravagantly. 

"I'm  going  to  live  and  get  rich,  and  do  wonders  for  all 
you  fellows  :  see  if  I  don't !  I'll  give  you,  Carl,  a  whole 
menagerie,  to  pay  you  for  the  animal  you  have  lost.  Old 
Joel,  if  you'll  stop  drinking  and  swearing,  I'll  give  you  a 
farm  and  sixty  yoke  of  oxen.  As  Jake  don't  like  to  work, 
he'll  have  to  become  a  minister  :  if  he  does,  I'll  build  him  a 
meeting-house.  Will  you  have  a  tower  or  a  steeple,  Jake  ? 
You've  only  to  say  the  word." 

So  he  promised  munificent  gifts  to  all,  except  Crumlett, 
for  whom  he  would  have  nothing,  he  said,  but  an  empty 
cask,  whenever  that  gentleman  wished  to  retire  from  life ; 
except  also  Daniels,  with  whom  he  did  not  like  to  joke.  But 
Daniels  said,  "What  are  you  going  to  give  me,  when  you 
come  into  your  fortune  ?  " 

"  You?"  said  Fred  earnestly.  "  I'll  tell  my  mother  all 
you  have  done  for  me,  and  make  her  your  friend  forever,  as  I 
am ;  and  that  will  be  worth  more  than  all  the  trifles  I've 
promised  the  rest." 

"But  why  reward  me  more  handsomely  than  you  do 
them?" 

24* 


282  THE    THEEE    SCOUTS. 

"Because  they  are  my  comrades,  and  they  do  nothing 
more  for  me  than  I  would  do  for  them.  But  you  are  a  stran- 
ger ;  and  yet  you  have  done  more  for  me  than  they  have,  — 
more,  a  great  deal,  than  I  should  have  done  for  you,  I  am 
afi-aid.  All  this  trouble  just  for  me  !  Then  there  is  your 
poor  horse ;  and,  besides,  your  life  is  in  danger !  What 
right  have  I  to  accept  all  this  from  one  I  don't  know  ?  " 

"Wait  till  you  do  know  me  better  than  you  do  now; 
then  you  will  not  ask  that  question.  Once  out  of  this  scrape, 
and  all  will  be  well :  nobody  will  have  any  thing  to  regi'et." 

"Nobody  but  me!"  groaned  Enos  Crumlett.  "  0  Til- 
dy  !  what  will  she  think  ?  I  sha'n't  da's  to  go  back  to  her 
now !  I  hain't  had  a  mouthful  to  eat  since  breakfast !  "  he 
added  pathetically. 

"  And  I  hope  you  won't  have,  for  seventeen  days  to  come  !  " 
said  Jake,'*exasperated  at  the  man's  pusillanimity. 

For  hours  the  fugitives  pursued  their  wild  journey.  At 
midnight,  the  clouds  blew  off.  The  moon  was  soaring  in  the 
heavens.  The  wind  had  gone  down,  and  the  air  was  frosty 
and  still.  Even  Daniels  had  not,  for  a  long  time,  known 
where  they  were ;  for  there  had  been  no  stars  by  which  to 
shape  their  course,  and  the  turnpikes  could  not  be  travelled 
with  safety.     They  halted  on  tlie  edge  of  a  wood  to  consult. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  Daniels,  "we  must  be   considerably 


THE    DISCOVER  Y.  283 

farther  north  than  I  supposed.  What  we  mistook  for  an 
ordinary  cross-road  must  have  been  the  Murfreesborough 
and  Franklin  Road ;  and  we  must  have  crossed  the  Nolensville 
pike  north  of  Hardiman's,  instead  of  south,  as  I  intended." 

"  Wal,  the  further  north,  the  better:  that's  my  doctrine, 
and  it's  a  sound  one  !  "  growled  old  Joel. 

"Yes,"  said  Daniels;  "but  in  order  to  carry  out  our 
original  plan,  and  keep  south  of  FrankUn,  we  shall  have  to 
chanore  our  course  ao;ain." 

"Which  I  ain't  a-going  to  do,  if  I  die  fust,"  said  Jake 
decidedly.  "If  we've  been  bearing  more  to  the  north  than 
we  thought,  le's  make  the  most  on't." 

"And  trust  to  luck,"  added  Cy,  "to  get  past  the  rebel 
lines  when  we  come  to  'em." 

"  You  speak  my  mind  precisely,"  replied  Daniels.  "  We 
have  thrown  our  pui'suers  off  the  track,  and  we  may  possibly 
get  in  this  side  of  Franklin.  But  we  must  move  very  cau- 
tiously now." 

They  resumed  their  flight,  proceeding  almost  due  north, 
across  a  rolling  farm-country.  They  had  not  gone  half  a 
mile,  however,  when  they  discovered  the  fires  of  an  extensive 
encampment,  and  saw  fields  of  white  tents  gleaming  in  the 
moonlight. 

"That  must  be  on  the  Nolensville  and  Franklin  Road," 


284  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

whispered  Daniels.-  "We  must  keep  to  the  west  now,  or 
camp  down  soon ;  for  it's  too  light  altogether  to  think  of  run- 
ning the  gantlet  of  the  enemy's  pickets  to-night." 

"  Let's  put  a  mile  or  two  between  us  and  the  rebels,  any- 
how," said  Cy. 

This  was  deemed  good  advice,  and  woods  and  hills  soon 
intervened  between  them  and  the  Confederate  camp-fii-es. 
For  an  hour  longer  they  plodded  on,  and  then  a  halt  was 
determined  upon.  Travel  by  night  over  a  rough  and  un- 
known region  is  perplexing  and  laborious  in  the  extreme. 
All  were  weary :  some  were  ready  to  drop  down  upon  the 
gTOund  with  fatigue.  Fred  was  suffering  intense  pain  in 
his  foot,  and  was  exhausted  with  the  efforts  he  had  made  to 
walk. 

They  passed  a  sheltered  little  dell,  and  came  to  the  foot  of 
a  hill,  crowned  by  woods,  stretching  in  irregular  long  black 
lines  against  the  western  sky. 

"I  think  I  know  these  woods,"  said  Daniels.  "They 
are  extensive.  It  is  too  far  to  go  around  them ;  and  we  may 
as  well  wait  for  daylight  to  get  through  them." 

They  climbed  a  steep,  rocky  crest,  and  entered  the  edge 
of  the  forest. 

"Here's  a  good  place  to  camp  down,"  said  Fred.  "We 
can  keep  a  lookout  from  this  ridge,  and  have  all  the  woods 
beyond  to  dive  into,  if  we  see  danger  coming." 


THE    DISCOVERY.  285 

All  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground,  too  weary  to  care 
much  where  they  lay.  Daniels  had  preserved  his  hlauket, 
which  he  once  more  shared  with  the  boy,  in  whose  welfare  he 
took  so  deep  an  interest. 

"  I  am  too  tired  even  to  thank  you  !  "  murmured  Fred  ; 
and,  almost  before  he  had  ceased  speaking,  he  fell  asleep. 

Fur  an  hour  more,  he  was  drowned  in  utter  obUvion.  Not 
even  the  paui  he  suflfered  could  interrupt  that  blissful  re- 
pose. The  last  thing  he  remembered  was  his  kind  friend 
])utting  his  arm  affectionately  about  him ;  and  the  first  thing 
he  observed  on  awaking  was,  that  that  friend  was  gone. 

But  somebotly  was  near,  whispering  to  him,  and  gently 
shaking  his  arm. 

"  Vidie  up,  vill  yeV  and  say  nothing;  but  come  vith  me 
vile  I  show  you." 

"  What  is  it,  Caid?  "  said  Fred,  rousing  himself,  amazed 
at  the  stranoje  awakin";. 

"I  vill  tell  you;  but  I  vas  not  vishing  to  tell  the  rest. 
pecause  he  is  your  friend." 

' '  Who  is  ?     Daniels  ?     Where  is  he  ?  " 

"  You  shall  see  vith  your  own  eyes,"  said  Carl. 

Leaving  theu:  comrades  sleeping,  they  crept  softly  among 
the  trees,  over  roots  and  logs,  to  the  brow  of  the  crest.  Hero 
Fred  became  aware  of  a  murmur  of  voices  below ;  ami  ad- 


286  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

vancing,  as  Carl  drew  Mm  by  the  hand,  to  the  edge  of  a 
rock  which  jutted  clear  from  the  fringing  shi'ubs  of  the  wood- 
side,  he  looked  down,  and  saw  a  bright  fire  burning  in  the 
little  dell  beneath.  Beyond  the  fire  were  horses  picketed ; 
around  it  were  men  lying,  rolled  up  in  their  blankets,  on 
the  ground ;  and  on  a  log  near  by  sat  two  men  conversing 
amicably.  *  One  of  them  had  an  immense  beard,  long  hair,  a 
brigandish  hat,  and  veiy  brigandish  pistols  :  it  was  Captain 
Gruffley.     The  other  was  Fred's  mysterious  friend  Daniels. 

"  It  is  he? "  whispered  Carl.  "I  thought  so ;  but  I  vas 
not  quite  sure.  I  had  not  seen  him  by  goot  daylight,  you 
know.  But  I  vake  up  sudden ;  and  I  hear  somepody  step, 
step,  so  shly  jty  my  head  :  then  I  hear  woices  off  here  ;  and 
I  say  to  myself,  '  Old  vellow,  I  vollow  you  soon !  '  So  I 
ToUow,  and  I  see  the  rebs  down  there ;  and  this  man  comes 
from  Yun  side,  and  he  shakes  hands  vith  the  captain  hearty  ; 
and  then  they  make  a  sofa  of  that  log,  vith  a  blanket  for 
cushions,  and  have  social  times,  vich  I  vas  not  weiy  pleased 
to  see,"  added  Carl. 

"It  is  strange!"  said  Fred.  "But  why  wasn't  you 
pleased?" 

"  Pecause,  I  vill  tell  you  now  all.  That  man,  your  friend, 
is  secesh  :  he  is  rebel  all  to  his  pack-pone,  and  vun  tarn 
shpy!  " 


THE    DISCOVERT.  287 

Fred  felt  a  strange  sickness  strike  to  bis  heart. 

**  Are  you  sm-e  ?  "  he  said  faintly. 

"  Wery,  wery  sure  !  "  answered  Carl  earnestly.  "  Vun 
time  before  now  I  have  see  bioi,  and  I  know." 

"When?  where?"  breathed  Fred  in  an  agony  of  sus- 
pense. 

"  It  vas  ven  I  vas  to  General  Pragg's  headquarters." 

"He  said  he  saw  you  there  !  " 

"Yes,  and  I  saw  him  too;  and  he  vas  showing  to  the 
officers  —  vat  you  think?  —  some  maps  of  Nashwille  fortifi- 
cations ;  and  he  vas  explaining  how  they  vas  to  be  attacked 
for  success.  I  vas  instructed  to  spot  all  such  vellows  I  see ; 
and  I  spot  him.  It  is  no  mishtake.  It  is  against  my  prin- 
ciple to  shwear ;  but  vat  I  call  him  is  vun  tam  shpy  !  " 

Carl  uttered  these  words  with  a  heat  and  vehemence  very 
unusual  with  him.  Fred  was  astonished.  All  his  former 
doubts  as  to  this  man's  good  faith  retui-ned  with  overwhelm- 
ing force.     It  was  a  moment  of  torture  to  him. 

"  0  Carl !  I  didn't  know  how  I  was  beginning  to  like  him  ! 
And  now  to  think  he  is  a  traitor  and  a  spy  !  It  must  be  — 
it  was  he  who  betrayed  our  pickets  :  he  guided  the  rebels  ; 
and  then,  from  remorse,  I  suppose,  because  I  am  so  young; 
he  helped  me  to  escape  !  Oh,  see  !  he  is  pointing  this  way 
now!" 


288  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

*•  He  has  got  us  in  a  trap  !  "  said  Carl ;  "  and  he  is  tell- 
ing the  captain  how  he  shall  catch  us." 

"  But  why,  after  doing  so  much  to  help  us  away,  — why 
will  he  give  us  up  now  ?  ' ' 

"He  vas  not  Tishiug  to  help  any  but  3'ou;  and  now  he 
yill  fix  it  to  save  you,  if  he  gives  up  the  rest." 

"  But  I  will  not  be  saved  by  hun  !  "  said  Fred  with 
bursting  indignation.  "Owe  my  life  to  a  traitor  to  my 
country  ?  Never  !  I  go  with  the  boys  ;  and  their  fate  shall 
be  my  fate  !  " 

"  Yell,  vat  shall  ve  do  ?  " 

"  Wait.  Let's  watch  a  httle  longer.  I  hate  to  tell  the 
boys  !  Oh,  I  wish  I  had  never  seen  him  !  "  And  Fred's 
heart  was  wrung  with  giief. 


OLD    JOEL'S    HATCHET.  289 


XXIX. 

OLD  JOEL'S  HATCHET. 

HEY  watched  until  Daniels  and  the  captain, 
arising,  shook  hands  again  cordially,  and  sepa- 
rated. The  captain  then  stretched  himself  upon 
the  ground  by  the  fire ;  while  Daniels,  instead  of  returning 
directly  to  the  hill,  disappeared  in  the  shadows  of  the  moon, 
below  its  base. 

"  He  is  your  friend,"  said  Carl :    "  you  shall  do  vat  you 
please.     I  say  nothing  to  nopody." 

Weighed  down  by  the  terrible  responsibility  thus  cast 
upon  him,  and  filled  with  bitter  and  conflicting  emotions, 
Fred  crept  back  to  his  bed.  He  found  his  comrades  still 
sleeping.  Should  he  suffer  them  to  sleep  on,  unwarned  of 
the  threatening  danger?  He  could  not  do  that;  and  yet, 
still  secretly  hoping,  against  all  reason  and  proof,  that 
Daniels  was  not  the  spy  he  seemed,  he  could  not  make  up 
his  mind  to  denounce  him  until  he  knew  more. 
25 


290  .THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"Who  is  that?"  said  a  low  voice, — the  voice  of  Cy 
Thui'ston,  who  had  been  awakened  by  the  movements  of  the 
boy. 

*'  Cy,"  whispered  Fred,  **  there's  rebel  cavahy  bivou- 
acked just  below  the  hill !  Carl  discovered  them ;  and  I 
have  just  been  to  take  a  look." 

"On  which  side?" 

**  On  the  side  we  came  up." 

"  Then  they  have  ai-rived  since  we  did,  and  they  must  be 
on  our  track  !  " 

"  So  I  thuik  !  "  said  Fred.  "  Don't  raise  any  alarm,  but 
go  and  look." 

Cy  went  to  take  a  peep  at  the  enemy.  Fred  sat  down 
where  he  had  lain  before,  instinctively  discarding  the  blanket 
of  the  man  to  whom  he  felt  that  he  already  owed  too  much. 
There  he  waited,  with  intense  anxiety,  until  Cy's  return. 

"  Boys,"  said  Cy,  waking  his  sleeping  comrades,  "  wake 
up  !     Make  no  noise,  —  not  a  word  ;  but  move  !  " 

"What's  the  trouble,  what's  the  trouble?"  said  Enos, 
starting  up  wildly.  "  I  thought  it  was  Tildy  punchin' 
me!" 

"  Are  you  awake,  Jake?  Stirring,  Joel?  'Do  you  hear 
me  boys,  all  of  you?  "  said  Cy.  "  Well,  I  have  to  tell  you 
there's  rebel  cavalry  within  forty  rods !  Where's  Dan- 
iels?" 


OLD    JOEL'S    HATCHET.  291 

"Here!"  said  Daniels,  who  had  silently  returned.  "I 
have  just  made  the  same  discovery,  and  was  coming  back  to 
tell  you." 

Fred  tremloled  violently ;  he  was  on  the  point  of  rising  up, 
and  denouncing  this  man. 

**  What  do  you  say  ?  Shall  we  move  ?-^— and  which  way  ?  " 
said  Cy. 

**  You  are  a  little  too  near  such  dangerous  neighbors," 
replied  Daniels  with  his  customary  quietness  of  tone.  "  But 
you  need  not  go  far.  No  doubt,  they  have  been  sent  here  to 
be  on  the  lookout  for  you.  They  have  sentinels  posted  along 
the  base  of  the  hill.  It  seems  it  has  been  expected  that  you 
might  pass  this  way ;  and  they  are  waiting  for  you  now,  not 
supposing  it  possible  that  you  have  already  passed,  and  got 
beyond  them." 

*'  They  must  be  wery  wigilant  to  come  pat  after  us  like 
that,"  said  Carl.  "  Vill  you  tell,  sir,  vat  for  they  sushpect 
ve  shall  be  coming  this  vay  ?  " 

'*  Probably  they  have  sent  out  to  cut  you  off  in  many  di- 
rections. This  party  happens  to  arrive  here,  where  it  was 
very  reasonable  to  suppose  you  might  pass,  if  you  knew  the 
country." 

"  Yich  you  happen  to  know  it,  and  vich  ve  have  you  to 
thank  for  pringing  us,"  said  Carl,  so  dryly,  that  only  Fred, 
who  knew  his  thoughts,  perceived  the  irony. 


292  THE    THEEE    SCOUTS. 

"  It  is  just  daybreak,"  said  Daniels.  "You  had  better 
not  think  of  getting  out  of  these  woods.  You're  safer  here 
than  anywhere  else.  Move  on  quietly  a  little  farther :  take 
Fred  with  you.  I'll  stay,  and  see  what  the  Dixie  boys  do  at 
daylight,  and  warn  you." 

Without  confusion,  without  noise  or  haste,  the  party  retii-ed 
farther  into  the  woods,  leaving  Daniels  to  keep  watch. 

"  This  will  do  :  let's  wait  here,"  said  Cy. 

"  No,  no  !  further,  further  !  "  Fred  insisted. 

So  they  kept  on ;  but,  in  a  little  while,  not  only  Cy,  but 
a  strong  majority  with  him,  declared  they  ought  not  to  pro- 
ceed another  rod  until  they  heard  from  Daniels. 

"I  have  a  particular  reason  for  insisting,"  replied  Fred. 
''Go  a  little  farther,  and  I'll  tell  you  :  then  you'll  agree  that 
I  was  right.     Won't  they,  Carl  ?  " 

Carl,  upon  whose  shoulder  he  was  leaning  as  he  hobbled 
along  after  his  friends,  knew  his  determination,  and  answered 
confidently,  — 

"He  is  right,  —  wery  much  so!  Keep  along  to  agoot 
sitting-down  place,  and  ve  vill  tell  you  a  shtory  vill  make 
you  shtare  !  '* 

"  Now,  what  is  it  ?  "  said  Jake,  when  at  length  they  had 
reached  a  log,  upon  which  Fred  seated  himself ;  while  all 
stood  around  him  in  the  dim  early  twihght  of  the  woods, 
eager  to  hear  his  reasons. 


OLD    JOEL'S    HATCHET.  293 

Fred  took  his  lame  ankle  on  his  knee,  drew  a  deep  breath 
of  anxiety  and  reluctance,  then  said  in  a  suppressed  voice,  — 

*'  Boys,  I  have  made  a  discovery.  That  man  is  what  some 
of  you  at  JBirst  suspected.  He  betrayed  you  once,  and  he  will 
again.     He  is  a  rebel  spy  !  '* 

'*  Told  you  so  !  told  you  so  in  the  beginning  !  "  said  old 
Joel  with  firm  triumph.  "And  I  hain't  changed  my  mind 
no  time;  though  I  didn't  want  to  hurt  Fred's  feelin's  by 
say  in'  so." 

"  But,  Fred,  what  has  converted  you?  " 

And  Fred  related  all  he  knew.  The  doubt  and  astonish- 
ment with  which  his  comrades  listened  at  first  changed  rap- 
idly to  certainty,  and  then  to  furious  resentment. 

**  Why  didn't  you  tell  us  at  once  ?  " 

**  Because  I  was  afraid  you  would  kill  him." 

"  And  why  not  kill  him  ?  —  the  dog  I  " 

"  No  doubt  he  deserves  it,"  said  Fred;  "  but  I  couldn't 
—  I  couldn't,  traitor  though  he  is,  after  all  his  kindness  to 
me.     Oh,  don't  blame  me,  boys  !  " 

"  And  you  meant  he  should  get  away  from  us?  " 

"Yes,  or  that  we  should  get  away  from  him.  Hanging 
him  would  do  no  good,  and  you  couldn't  keep  him  a  pris- 
oner. All  we  can  do  now  is  just  to  take  care  of  ourselves." 
Fred,  gulping  down  his  emotions  stoutly,  and  forgetting  all 

25* 


294  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

pain,  rose  from  the  log.  "  We've  no  time  to  lose.  We 
should  be  miles  from  here  by  sunrise,  —  where  not  even  he 
can  find  us  !  " 

"I  rather  guess  the  boy  is  about  half  right,"  said  Jake. 
*'  He  means  well,  anyhow.  But  I  be  hanged  if  I'll  stir  a 
step  further  till  I  lay  my  claw  on  that  scoundrel's  thi'oat. 
I'm  o;oino;  back  to  find  him." 

"  Don't  ye  do  it,  don't  ye  do  it !  "  remonstrated  old  Joel. 
*'  Don't  mn  no  resks  o'  that  kind.     Better  let  him  alone." 

"Better  for  us,  I  suppose,"  rephed  Jake.  '*  But  I  feel 
it's  a  duty  to  stop  the  mischief  he's  doing  the  country. 
Don't  you,  Cy?" 

Fred  trembled ;  for  he  knew  that  Cy,  such  was  his  influ- 
ence over  Jake,  had  but  to  speak  a  decided  "Yes"  or 
**  No  "  to  determine  Daniels's  fate. 

"I  think  he  ought  to  be  hung,"  said  Cy  in  a  low,  firm 
voice,  after  a  moment's  solemn  thought. 

"Besides,"  added  Jake,  "I'm  such  an  unredeemed 
wretch,  I  own  up  to  a  love  of  vengeance.  I'm  willing  to  run 
some  risk,  and  take  a  little  trouble,  to  be  even  with  the 
traitor.     Shall  I  go  back  for  him?  " 

"  Yes;  and  I  will  go  with  you,"  said  Cy. 

Fred's  heart  sank  with  misgivings  and  remorse  for  what  he 
had  done. 


OLD    JOEL'S    HATCHET.  295 

"  Oh,  don't  go  !  "  he  entreated.  "  I  shall  be  sorry  I  told 
you.  I  can  never  forgive  myself  or  you,  if  you  do,  —  boys, 
boys !  " 

But  they  would  not  listen ;  and,  even  while  he  pleaded, 
there  arose  in  his  heart,  with  strange  inconsistency,  the  feeling 
that  perhaps  he  ought  not  to  consult  his  own  personal  wishes, 
but,  for  his  country's  sake,  to  let  justice  be  done  upon  this 
man. 

He  sat  down  upon  the  log,  and  covered  his  face  with  his 
hands,  writhing  with  anguish  of  spirit ;  whilst  his  companions 
stood  around,  silent,  sullen,  relentless,  yet  pitying  him. 

Then  the  boy,  controlhng  his  passion,  tried  to  pray,  —  a 
voiceless,  inward  prayer,  —  his  face  still  covered  from  the 
cold  and  shadowy  dawn  and  from  the  eyes  of  his  compan- 
ions. So  he  calmed  himself;  and  into  his  heart  stole  a 
ghmmer  of  light,  like  that  from  the  brightening  east  difiusing 
itself  through  the  woods,  —  a  gleam  of  trust,  of  faith  in  that 
Providence  his  mother  had  taught  him  to  revere,  and  which 
had  watched  over  him  so  wonderfully  hitherto. 

"Itvillbe  all  right,  —  all  right,  you  see!"  said  Carl, 
patting  him  kindly  on  the  shoulder. 

It  seemed  as  if  the  Power  to  which  he  prayed  had  insphed 
Caii  to  speak  these  comforting  words. 

'  Yes,  I  beHeve  so  I  "  exclaimed  Fred  manfully,  uncover 


296  '        THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

ing  ids  face.  "  I  have  done  what  I  thought  best.  Now, 
happen  what  may,  I  believe  it  will  be  all  right." 

'*  There  they  come  !  "  said  old  Joel,  seeing  two  tall  forms 
approaching,  and  looking  eagerly  for  a  third. 

But  there  was  no  third.  Fred  leaped  up,  and  gazed ;  and 
his  heart  leaped  up  also  with  gratitude  and  joy,  when  he 
saw  Cy  and  Jake  returning  without  the  spy. 

"  Couldn't  find  him  !  "  said  Cy.  "  He  has  probably  sus- 
pected somethmg,  and  made  off.  Now,  boys,  for  a  double- 
quick  through  these  woods  before  the  rascals  are  after  us  !  " 

**  Any  thing  for  exercise !  "  grambled  old  Joel,  stirring 
himself.     "  I'm  nigh  about  froze." 

''I've  ketched  the  thunderin'est  cold!"  said  Mr.  Crum- 
lett  aguishly.  "My  legs  are  so  stiff!  —  don't  leave  me 
behuid,  Tildy  !  — I  mean,  gentlemen  !  "  Amid  the  gloom 
and  terrible  uncertainty  of  that  di-eary  dawn,  he  had  been 
thinking  ruefully  of  her  at  home  ;  and  the  name  shpped  from 
his  tongue  before  he  was  aware. 

"  I  can  stand  the  freezings,"  observed  Carl ;  "  but  I  am 
wery  much  awerse  to  stai'wation.  I  have  nothing  but  the  east 
vind  in  my  pelly  since  all  night ;  and  it  is  lonesome  !  " 

"  If  I  had  only  two  good  legs  now,"  said  Fred,  "I 
shouldn't  care  for  cold  or  hunger  either.  —  I'm  so  glad  you 
didn't  catch  him,  Cy  !  " 


OLD    JOEL^S    HATCHET.  297 

"So  am  I !  "  Cy  answered  with  a  stem  smile ;  "  for  it's 
no  trifling  matter  to  hang  a  man." 

The  woods  brightened  with  the  morning  Hght  as  they 
passed  through.  The  foliage,  which  would  have  overshadowed 
them  with  its  heavy  canopy  during  the  earlier  months,  was 
lying  on  the  ground,  rustling  under  their  feet.  A  few 
brown  and  withered  oak-leaves  fluttered  from  their  boughs, 
among  which  the  startled  crows  were  beginning  to  caw  ;  and 
there  was  occasionally  a  colony  of  pines,  breathing  out  their 
sweet  odors  upon  the  frosty  air  :  but,  with  these  exceptions, 
all  the  forestrtops  were  bare. 

"Nuts,  boys!  nuts!"  at  length  cried  Jake.  "We 
sha'n't  starve  now  !  Yonder's  hickories  ;  and  we  can  do  as 
the  squirrels  do."  • 

"  Shagbarks  !  —  that's  what  we  call  'em  in  Vermont !  " 
exclaimed  Enos,  running  to  look  for  nuts  among  the  leaves. 

"Valnuts! — that's  vat  they  call  'em  in  Pennsylwany, 
vair  the  Hapgoots  live,"  observed  Carl. 

* '  Little  did  I  think  I  should  ever  go  a-nutting  in  secesh 
woods!"  chuckled  Fred.  "Joel's  hatchet  will  be  jast  the 
thing  to  crack  them.  You  can  send  some  of  these  to  be 
society  for  that  lonesome  stomach  of  yours,  Carl  !  " 

"Yes!  nuts  makes  wery  excellent  prowisions !  "  And 
Carl  filled  his  pockets. 


298  THE    THnEE    SCOUTS. 

m. 

"  Gather  now,  and  crack  afterwards,"  said  Cy  to  old 
Joel,  who  was  beginning  to  use  his  hatchet  on  a  log, 

"  Oh,  yes,  Joel !  wait  till  we  come  to  a  good  safe  place  to 
crack  and  eat,"  added  Fred. 

*'  I  shall  crack  jest  where  I'm  a  mind  to,  and  eat  jest 
when  I'm  a  mind  to,  for  all  anybody/'  growled  the  old  man, 
who  could  never  bear  that  the  young  should  dictate  to  a 
veteran  of  his  wisdom  and  experience. 

The  surface  of  the  log  was  rotten ;  and  his  fingers  were  so 
stiff  with  the  cold,  that  he  pounded  them  about  as  often  as 
he  did  the  nuts.  The  others,  in  the  mean  time,  scramblino- 
over  the  ground  and  raking  among  the  leaves,  filled  their 
pockets. 

"  Come,  old  feMow  !  we  are  too  much  exposed  here !  " 
And  his  companions,  hastening  on,  looked  out  eagerly  for 
thickets  in  which  to  conceal  themselves  and  enjoy  their  pro- 
vidential breakfast. 

Joel,  determined  to  have  something  to  nibble  by  the  way, 
continued  crackino;  the  nuts  and  his  numb  fino-ers  in'  the 
most  stolid  and  obstinate  manner,  until,  glancing  up  at 
length,  he  discovered  that  he  was  entirely  alone.  The  crows 
cawed  in  the  high  tree-tops,  and  flapped  then-  black  wings  in 
the  silvery  light.  A  squirrel,  coming  head  foremost  down  a 
tall  oaken  trunk,  and  perceiving  an  intnider  robbing  him  of 


OLD    JOEL^S    HATCHET.  299 

his  winter's  stores,  stopped  at  half-mast,  cocked  up  his  little 
head,  jerked  his  tail  angrily  over  his  back,  and  scolded  most 
vehemently,  filling  the  woods  with  chattering  echoes.  He 
was  so  near,  that  the  old  man  believed  he  could  hit  him  with 
his  hatchet. 

"  I  can  make  jest  a  little  fire  in  a  hollow  somewhere,  and 
roast  him  !     By  time,  won't  it  be  nice  !  " 

His  mouth  watering  with  the  delightful  anticipation, — 
forgetting  his  absent  companions,  or  thinking  only  of  his  tri- 
umph over  them  when  he  should  show  his  prize,  and  refuse 
to  share  it,  in  order  to  punish  them  for  running  away  from 
him, — forgetting  all  danger  from  the  enemy  also,  —  he 
stepped  carefully  forward,  poising  his  weapon,  until  within 
three  or  foui-  paces  of  the  trunk  to  which  the  saucy  squirrel 
clung.  He  looked  up  with  a  smile  of  confidence.  The 
squirrel  looked  down,  spitting  defiance.  Suddenly  the 
hatchet,  swung  swiftly  over  Joel's  head,  sHpped  fi-om  his 
hand,  and  sped  straight  towards  the  little  stranger. 

The  tomahawk  of  a  practised  Iroquois  could  scarcely  have 
made  a  better  shot.  Unfortunately,  however,  Joel  had  failed 
to  take  into  consideration  the  squirrel's  remarkable  talent  for 
dodging.  By  the  time  the  hatchet  reached  the  spot  where 
the  chattering  head  had  been,  head  and  body  and  tail  had 
disappeared  on  the  other  side  of  the  trunk.  That  was  the 
last  Joel  saw  of  his  fine  breakfast. 


300  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

And  the  hatchet  —  where  was  that  ?  It  had  gone  up,  and 
failed  to  come  down  again.  In  fact,  it  had  quickly  and 
adroitly  taken  the  squirrel's  place;  and  there  it  clung, 
fifteen  feet  from  the  ground,  looking  down  at  the  astonished 
Joel  almost  as  intelligently  as  the  squirrel  had  done  before. 
You  see,  there  was  another  important  contingency  for  which 
the  astute  old  man  had  neglected  to  make  due  allowance,  — 
the  possibility  of  a  hurled  hatchet  sticking  where  it  hits. 

"  Wal !  "  he  muttered,  "  that  didn't  happen  edsac'ly's  I 
ca'c'lated  !  "  "With  a  sudden  feeling  of  consternation,  he 
looked  for  his  absent  friends,  and  seemed  to  realize  the 
danger  of  being  separated  from  them  altogether,  and  the 
folly  of  his  own  obstinate  conduct.  To  rejoin  them  with- 
out his  hatchet,  however,  would  be  too  great  a  mortifica- 
tion. So  he  hastily  searched  for  clubs  to  throw  at  the 
handle,  in  the  hope  to  dislodge  it.  But  his  ill  success  in 
discharging  these  missiles  proved  that  he  was  either  becoming 
nervous,  or  that  his  previous  capital  shot  at  the  squirrel  had 
been  the  result,  not  of  skill,  but  of  chance. 

*'  By  time  !  "  he  exclaimed,  —  appropriately  swearing  by 
the  precious  thing  he  was  los'ijg  so  much  of,  —  "I  can't 
bring  the  pesky  thing  down  in  all  day,  at  this  rate  !  But  I 
can  shin  up  the  tr^e  in  a  jifiy  !  " 

Joel  had  been  a  good  chmher  in  his  youth ;  but  it  was 


OLD    JOEL'S    HATCHET.  301 

many  years  since  he  had  had  occasion  to  '*  shin  up  "  a  trunk 
like  that.  He  over-estimated  his  agility.  If  the  exercise  of 
cracking  nuts  and  throwing  clubs  had  not  warmed  him,  he 
was  destined  to  get  warm  now.  Clasping  tight  the  trunk 
with  arms  and  legs,  he  succeeded  with  fearful  toil,  panting 
and  sweating  prodigiously,  in  working  his  way  up  hitch  by 
hitch ;  that  is,  inch  by  inch. 

"  I'm  plaguy  glad  the  boys  ain't  none  on  'em  here  to  laugh 
at  me !  "  thousfht  he,  conscious  of  the  ridiculous  fio-ure  he 
cut. 

There  was  a  spectator,  however,  who  witnessed  the  feat. 
Attracted  by  the  cawing  of  the  crows,  or  the  scolding  of  the 
squirrel,  or  the  thumping  of  the  clubs,  —  or  perhaps  by  all 
these  evidences  of  a  man  in  the  woods,  —  he  approached  the 
spot,  and  reached  the  foot  of  the  tree  just  as  Joel  reached  the 
hatchet. 

The  old  man  had  been  too  busy  to  keep  a  lookout  as  he 
climbed,  and  his  own  toilsome  struggles  and  heavy  breathing 
had  drowned  the  sounds  of  footsteps  in  the  leaves.  But  hav- 
ing, with  a  jerk,  disengaged  the  hatchet,  he  glanced  over  his 
shoulder  to  see  where  it  should  fall,  as  he  was  about  to  drop 
it.  Instead  of  dropping  the  hatchet,  he  came  near  dropping 
himself,  so  great  was  his  amazement  to  see  a  weU-remem- 
bered  face  looking  up  at  him  with  calm  eyes  from  below. 

It  was  the  face  of  Daniels,  the  spy. 

26 


302  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


XXX. 


DANIELS. 


TiEAT  was  the  vexation  of  Joel's  companions 

wlien  they  at  length  halted  for  him  to  come  up 

with  them,  and  he  did  not  appear. 

**  Leave  him  behind,  and  good  enough  for  him,  if  a  man 

will  be  a  fool !  "  said  Enos  Crumlett,  strenuously  opposed  to 

incurring  any  danger  for  the  sake  of  another. 

"If  we  had  applied  Mr.  Crumlett's  idea  of  justice  to  his 
own  case,  I'm  afraid  we  should  have  had  but  little  of  his  in- 
teresting company  all  this  time  !  "  said  Fred. 

"Well,  boys,"  said  Qy,  "  we  are  nearer  the  enemy  than  I 
wish ;  but,  since  the  old  man  is  missing,  we  may  as  well  crack 


a  few  nuts  whilst  we're  waiting. 


"Hello  I  "  cried  Jake,  who  had  gone  on  to  reconnoitre: 
"  we're  'most  out  of  the  timber  on  this  side  !  " 

Cy  went  forward  to  join  him ;  and  they  soon  returned,  an- 
nouncing the  discovery  of  a  ban'cn  field  overlooking  an  ex- 


DANIELS.  303 

panse  of  country,  and  clumps  of  low  savins  on  the  edo-e  of 
it,  offering  conveniences  for  concealment  and  nut-cracking. 

"  There's  a  ledge  to  crack  on,  and  little  stones  we  can  use 
in  place  of  the  old  man's  hatchet,"  said  Cy.  "  We  can  see 
if  there's  anybody  coming  for  a  mile  on  that  side  ;  and  one 
of  us  can  keep  watch  on  this." 

The  opening  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  woods;  and 
Fred,  hobbHng  near  enough  .to  look  out,  saw  a  large  undu- 
lating field,  covered  with  white  frost,  and  gilded  here  and 
there  with  rays  of  the  newly  risen  sun.  In  a  still  valley 
below,  the  roofs  and  gable-ends  of  a  few  scattered  and'  half- 
hidden  dwelKngs  were  to  be  seen,  with  now  and  then  a  thin 
wi-eath  of  smoke  rising  slowly  from  an  out-door  chimney,  and 
blending  with  the  pale-blue  morning  haze  that  hung  over  all 
the  landscape.  In  the  distance  were  more  woods  and  hills, 
dimly  glorious  in  the  sunlight  and  mist. 

But  Fred's  eye  was  quickly  diverted  from  ihQ  beauty  of 
the  scene  by  an  alarming  incident.  By  a  road  that  wound 
through  the  little  village,  and  around  towards  the  west  side  of 
the  woods,  galloped  a  squad  of  cavalry-men. 

"  See  !  —  the  rebels  !     They  are  surrounding  us  !  " 

"  Sure  as  guns  !  "  said  Jake.  "  Your  friendly  spy,  Fred, 
has  done  for  us!  " 

*'  If  ve  could  have  the  pleasure  to  hang  him  from  a  sour 


304  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

apple-tree  first,  then  ve  could  fight  vitli  goot  stomachs ;  for  I 
si^hpect  fighting  is  in  the  programme  now !  "  And  Carl's 
broad,  brown  features  hghted  up  belligerently. 

*'  Jake  and  I  will  make  a  reconnoissance  on  the  west  side, 
and  look  after  those  fellows,"  said  Cy. 

They  depai-ted,  ghding  swiftly  among  the  trees. 

"  The  rest  of  you  be  cracking  our  preakfast,"  said  Carl; 
**  and  I  vill  squint  vun  eye  out  for  old  Joel  and  the  rebs. 
Maybe  I  shall  clunb  a  tree  to  get  a  wiew.'* 

He  also  disappeared.  The  others  knelt,  or  sat  tailor-fash- 
ion, afbout  the  ledge,  and  cracked  the  nuts  they  had  gathered, 
and  chatted  in  low  voices,  with  as  much  apparent  unconcern 
as  if  they  were  on  a  mere  pleasui-e  excursion  in  Northern 
woods,  —  all  but  Mr.  Crumlett,  who  kept  starting  up,  and 
listening,  and  saying,  *'  0  Lord  !  we  shall  all  be  killed  !  " 
whilst  ravenously  eating. 

"  I  say,  old  Crumlett !  "  exclaimed  Fred  indignantly, 
"  you're  the  only  man  that's  eaten  a  nut.  All  the  rest  of  us 
are  waiting  to  share  with  the  other  fellows  when  they  come 
back  ;  but  you  think  only  of  yourself." 

''  It  ain't  of  myself:  it's  of  my  wife  and  children,  my  dear 
wife  and  children  !  "  replied  the  affectionate  husband  and  fa- 
ther, cutting  open  a  shell  with  trembling  fingers  holding  a 
jack-knife.      "  I  must  save  my  life  for  them,  — for  them  !  " 


DANIELS.  305 

and  he  snapped  up  the  meat  with  his  teeth,  glancmg  wildly 
around  once  more  for  the  enemy.  "  If  I  should  starve,  what 
would  come  o'  Tildy  and  the  twins?  There!  there!" 
—  he  leaped  to  his  feet,  prepai-ed  to  run  like  an  Indian  for 
their  sakes,  —  "  the  bushwhackers  !  they're  comin'  !  " 

**  Vait  vile  I  show  you  if  I  am  a  pushvacker !  "  and 
Carl's  genial  countenance  peered  thi'ough  the  savins.  "  I 
have  got  some  sass  to  go  vith  your  try  preakfast,"  — empty- 
ing a  hatful  of  persimmons  on  the  rock. 

"  Jerushy  !  where  j'e  git  them  ?  "  And  Enos  made  a 
lunge  to  seize  a  handful  of  the  fruit.  But  Carl  quietly  put 
up  his  hat,  and  caught  Mr.  Crumlett's  face  in  it. 

"  Wery  sony  to  intervere  vith  your  polite  intentions,  Mr. 
Grumblett !  But  you  shall  not  crab  !  '  These  is  for  aU  the 
vellers,  ven  they  come ;  and  I  have  not  eat  vun;  and  you  shall 
not,  by  swow  !  " 

*' You  can't  help  my  eating  that,  now  I've  got  it  in  my 
hand  ! "  said  Enos,  who  had  secured  a  single  persimmon, 
which  he  tossed  into  his  mouth  (for  Tildy 's  sake  and  the 
twins'),  before  Carl  could  hinder  him. 

"  I  shall  help  it  some  !  "  And  the  sturdy  lad,  leaping 
upon  Mr.  Crumlett's  back  as  he  turned  from  hun,  munching 
the  fruit,  to  separate  the  seeds  from  the  pulp,  bore  him  to 
the  ground,  where  he  held  him  in  a  stooping  posture,  with  his 

26* 


306  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

fingers  at  bis  throat.  "  Sbpit  it  out !  as  tbe  little  girl  said  to 
the  bull-dog  that  had  her  doughnut.  I  shall  joke  you  till 
you  do.     And  make  haste ;  for  I  must  go  pack  to  my  post." 

Mr.  Crumlett,  notwithstanding  the  urgent  case  of  wife  and 
children,  yielded  to  Cai-l's  still  more  urgent  persuasion,  and 
sacrificed  the  persimmon. 

"  Thank  ye !  wery  much  opleeged !  "  said  Carl,  smiling 
grimly,  when  he  saw  ihe  stolen  fruit  ejected.  His  fingers 
relaxed  their  stern  grip ;  and  Enos,  terrified,  and  ghastly  blue 
from  the  throttling,  arose  to  his  feet,  picking  up  his  hat. 
**  Now  I  go  :  and,  if  any  of  you  see  this  wery  comical  indi- 
widual  do  any  more  of  his  funny  tricks  "  (for  the  boys  were 
laughing  convulsively  at  poor  Enos),  "  you  shall  tell  me  ven 
I  come  pack ;  and,  if  it  is  another  plum,  I  shall  prewail  on  him 
to  shpit  it  up,  though  it  is  three  times  swallowed." 

"Darned  fool!"  muttered  Mr.  Crumlett,  pressing  his 
hat  into  shape  after  Carl  retired,  and  feeling  of  his  windpipe. 
"  I  believe  he'd  have  killed  me  jest  for  one  persimmon  !  I 
never  had  sich  a  tiger-cat's  claws  at  my  gullet  in  all  my  bora 
days!" 

Carl  returned  to  his  persimmon-tree,  and  was  filling  his  hat 
again,  when  he  discovered  two  men  walking  through  the  dis- 
tant woods.  He  said  nothing,  but  crept  back  softly  into  the 
savins. 


DANIELS.  307 

"  Fred  Rivers  !  I  vish  to  shpeak  vith  you  apout  something 
Tvery  particular." 

Fred  promptly  left  his  nufcKjracking,  and  followed  his  fiiend, 
little  dreaming  what  a  shock  the  cool-headed  Carl  was  pre- 
paring for  him. 

**  An  animal  I  have  discovered  ;  and  I  vant  to  ask  your 
adwice." 

*'  What  animil  ?  —  where  ?  "  said  ^Ir.  Crumlett,  beheving 
Carl  had  found  something  nicer  still  than  the  persimmons, 
and  meaning  to  have  his  share. 

He  was  starting  to  accompany  the  boys,  when  Carl  stopped 
him. 

"  Mr.  Grumblett,  you  are  not  inwited  to  the  show.  You 
shtay  vair  you  are,  or  I  rap  you."     So  Enos  staid. 

*'  Now,  Fred,  my  poy,  my  wision  is  not  so  goot  for  long 
ranges  as  some,  and  I  vant  you  vith  your  eyes  to  tell  me  vat 
for  an  animal  it  is.  Look  through  the  voods  there,  and  see. 
Is  its  name  Joel?" 

"  Old  Joel,  sure  as  the  world !  "  exclaimed  Fred,  de- 
lighted at  the  sight  of  the  lost  old  man. 

*'  And  now  you  see  another  pibed  coming  from  the  hollow: 
tell  me  if  I  see  right,  and  if  its  name  is  Shpy  Daniels  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  "  Fred  could  only  utter  a  groan  ;  and  his  heart  sunk 
within  him  like  lead. 


308  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  I  have  been  to  cattle-shows,  and  I  have  seen  animals  I 
vas  gladder  to  see  than  hun  !  I  vas  hoping  he  vas  cleared 
out.  Now,  as  I  have  said  vonce  this  morning,  he  is  your 
friend ;  and  I  shall  do  vat  you  say.  If  ve  call  to  Joel,  he 
vill  come  too :  and  it  vill  be  sorry  times  for  him  if  he  gets 
into  the  hands  of  our  vellows." 

"  He  is  looking  for  me !  "  said  Fred.  **  Oh  !  when  he  got 
away  once,  why  didn't  he  stay  ?  Joel  is  hunting  for  us  too ; 
and  we  shall  lose  him  again,  if  we  don't  call.  See  !  they  are 
going  off  towards  the  other  side  of  the  woods !  " 

**  And  you  vill  feel  pad  if  something  wery  uncomfortable 
should  happen  to  your  friend  ?  " 

"I  should,  I  should!  But,  Carl,  do  as  you  think  best. 
If  the  rebels  are  surrounding  us,  and  he  betrayed  us  to  them, 
why,  then,  if  he  was  my  own  father,  he  ought  to  suffer,  and 
I  ought  to  be  wilhng  !  " 

"  Eesides,  ven  ve  have  him  in  our  hands,  and  the  rebs  are 
coming  too  close  for  our  fancy,  it  may  be  some  adwantage  to 
have  their  man." 

"  Yes,  yes  !  "  said  Fred,  his  spirit  rising  up  stem  and  res- 
olute within  him.  "  We  must  take  him  !  We  must  put  it 
out  of  his  power  to  do  any  more  mischief!  " 

"Then,  shall  I  shtand  up ,  and  fizzle?"  Carl  meant  to 
say  "  whistle." 


DANIELS.  309 

"  No  :  I  wiU  !  " 

**  That  is  goot :  it  vill  be  more  surer  to  fetch  him." 

Fred  rose  up  by  the  persimmon-tree,  and  whistled,  and 
waved  his  cane. 

"VeU  done!"  said  Cail  ''That  brings  him!  And 
look  how  old  Joel  hurries  vith  his  hatchet !  " 

Full  of  grief,  but  determined ;  looking  pale,  but  inexora- 
ble, —  Fred  sat  down  by  the  tree,  and  waited  for  the  two  to 
come  up.  Carl  in  the  mean  time  crept  into  the  savins,  and 
warned  the  others. 

"  Well,  Fred  !  "  said  Daniels  gravely,  bending  his  keen, 
magnetic  eyes  on  the  boy,  with  an  expression  kindly  but 
searching  :   "  well,  my  boy  !  what  does  this  mean  ?  " 

"I  don't  know,  sir,"  replied  Fred  coldly:  then  with  a 
look,  and  in  a  tone  sorrowful,  reproachful,  stubborn,  he  add- 
ed, "I  ask  you,  sir  !  what  does  it  mean  ?  " 

"  If  you  think  I  intended  to  desert  you,  you  are  altogether 
mistaken,"  said  the  spy.  "  But  it  looks  as  if  you  had  in- 
tended to  give  me  the  slip." 

"  Yes,  sir  !  "  —  Fred  rapped  the  ground  nervously  with 
his  cane,  —  "  yes,  sir  !     I  did  intend  to." 

"  You  think  you  can  do  better  without  me,  then  ?  "  And 
Daniels  smiled,  —  a  strange,  signiJ3.cant  smile. 

"  I  think,  sir,  we  could  all  have  done  very  much  better 
without  you  from  the  first." 


310  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Then  it  will  be  useless  for  me  to  propose  what  I  came  to 
propose,"  he  said,  folding  his  arms,  and  looking  down  with 
a  disappointed  face  at  the  boy. 

"  I  am  willing  to  hear  any  thing  you  have  to  say,"  Fred 
answered  sullenly,  yet  with  a  gleam  of  hope,  —  a  feeble  hope, 
that  this  man,  for  whom  he  was  beginning  to  feel  such  grati- 
tude and  aflfection,  might  yet  say  something  to  clear  himself 
from  the  terrible  shadow  of  suspicion  that  rested  on  him. 

Daniels  got  down  upon  one  knee,  and  pretended  to  be 
picking  up  some  persimmons,  as  he  said  confidentially  in 
Fred's  ear,  — 

"You  do  wi'ong  to  blame  me  for  what  has  happened. 
You  are  in  a  precarious  situation  here,  I  know.  With 
that  lame  foot  of  yours,  I  don't  see  how  you  can  escape, 
or  how  your  comrades  can  get  safely  away  with  such  a  bur- 
den on  their  hands.  Now,  I  happen  to  know  the  officer  in 
command  of  the  Confederate  cavalry  here  "  — 

"I  notice  you  always  say  'Confederate  cavalry,  Confed- 
erate government,'"  interrupted  Fred.  '' I  ssiy  rebels. 
But  they  are  particular  friends  of  yours,  I  perceive  !  " 

Daniels  regarded  him  in  silent  astonishment  a  moment, 
and  went  on  in  an  unchanged  tone  of  voice,  as  if  no  inter- 
ruption had  occurred. 
**  I  have  a  chance  acquaintance  with  the  officer ;  and  through 


DANIELS.  311 

his  influence  I  can  get  you  oflT,  put  you  on  a  horse,  and  per- 
haps carry  you  through  the  Hues." 

"And  my  friends  here  ?  " 

*'  They  must  take  care  of  themselves.  I  would  help  them 
more,  if  I  could ;  but  to  relieve  them  of  you  is  the  most  I 
can  do." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  will  call  them,  and  put  it  to  vote  :  and,  if 
they  say  I  ought  to  accept  your  offer,  I  will  accept  it ;  but 
otherwise  I  sconi  it.  If  they  are  tked  of  me,  I'll  rid  them 
of  my  company ;  but,  if  not,  I'll  stick  to  them,  and  die  with 
them,  if  necessary,  before  I  will  degrade  myself  by  receiving 
any  more  assistance  from  a  rebel  spy !     Carl !  boys  !  " 

As  Fred  called,  the  boys  rushed  out.  At  the  same  mo- 
ment, old  Joel,  who  had  been  standing  near,  waiting  for  a 
fitting  opportunity  to  perform  an  act  of  valor  he  had  long 
meditated  but  feared  to  undertake,  sj^rang  upon  Daniels,  and 
grasped  his  shoulder  with  his  left  hand,  whilst  he  brandished 
the  hatchet  with  his  right. 

"  You're  my  prisoner  !  " 

Daniels  scarcely  changed  countenance  as  he  rose  from  his 
knee,  and  looked  the  old  man  fixedly  in  the  face. 

"  Don't  be  a  fool !  "  he  said  in  a  tone  of  stern  authority. 
And  with  two  motions  of  his  hands,  rapid  as  the  play  of  a 
wild  beast's  paws,  he  threw  off  the  grasp  from  his  shoulder, 
and  wrenched  the  hatchet  from  Joel's  hand. 


312  THE    2HREE    SCOUTS. 

Scarcely  bad  he  done  so,  however,  when  Carl,  who  had 
crept  behmd  him,  served  him  as  he  had  previously  served 
Enos,  —  pounced  upon  his  back,  and  throttled  him.  The  rest 
rushed  to  his  assistance.  One  seized  the  hand  that  had 
seized  the  hatchet,  another  secured  its  fellow ;  and  as  Dan- 
iels, choked  and  embarrassed  as  he  was,  flung  his  adversaries 
about  him  with  the  strength  and  violence  of  an  athlete,  there 
came  suddenly  a  bayonet  to  his  breast.  Even  Mr.  Crumlett 
aided,  or  sought  to  aid,  in  the  capture,  by  standing  afar  oflT, 
and  exclaiming,  *'  Ketch  him  !  hang  on  to  him !  for  God's 
sake,  hang  on !  "  while  he  held  himself  in  readiness  to  run 
for  his  life,  in  case  he  had  seen  so  dangerous  an  adversary 
break  loose  again. 

But  Daniels,  powerful  and  resolute  as  he  was,  could  not 
shake  himself  free  fi'om  the  relentless  clutches  of  his  cap- 
tors. 

*'  Don't  hurt  him  !  don't  I  "  cried  Fred,  restraining  the 
man  with  the  bayonet.  "  He  gives  up.  Let  go,  Cai-1 :  he 
is  safe !  " 

Indeed,  the  spy  had  ceased  to  struggle,  seeing  the  utter 
futility  of  his  eflforts  to  release  himself;  and  now,  surrounded 
and  held,  but  not  thrown,  slightly  flushed,  and  breathing 
quick,  but  smiling  quietly  nevertheless,  he  glanced  around 
on  his  antagonists. 


DANIELS.  313 

*'  Well,  wliat  of  it?  You  have  got  me.  I  am  not  equal 
to  half  a  dozen  :  I  am  in  your  hands.  But  you  might  have 
had  me  with  less  trouble  :  for  I  have  no  wish  to  get  away ; 
only  I  don't  like  forcible  restraint !  " 

*'  As  the  fox  said,  ven  he  found  himself  shut  up  in  the 
hen-coop :  '  This  is  just  the  place  vair  I  vas  vishing  to  be,' 
says  he  ;  *  only  if  you  vill  be  so  goot  as  open  the  vinder  for 
a  little  more  air.  How  wery  comfortable ! '  says  he.  So 
madam  hen,  she  opens  the  vinder,  and  out  hops  the  fox. 
But  ve  shall  not  open  the  vinder  ;  and  so  you  shall  not  hop 
out.     Hillo  !  there  is  Cy  :  just  in  time  !  "  cried  Carl. 

Grim  and  pleased  looked  the  tall  Blinoisan  as  he  drew 
near,  and  stood  in  his  rebel  uniform,  with  his  rebel  musket, 
and  observed  what  his  comrades  had  done. 

*'  Happy  to  meet  you,  sir  !  A  little  while  ago,  I  was  al- 
most glad  you  were  gone  ;  but  now  I  hope  to  cultivate  your 
acquaintance  still  further.  Boys,  we  have  certainly  been  be- 
trayed. The  rebels  are  posting  scouts  on  the  west  side  of 
us,  and  forming  a  complete  line  around  us.  They  will  close 
in  upon  us  when  every  thing  is  ready ;  and  we  shall  have 
to  fight  like  fury,  or  sun-ender.  Meanwhile,  let's  quietly 
deal  with  this  man  according  to  his  deserts." 

*'  Don't  do  any  thing  rashly  !  "  Fred  interceded. 

"No,"  said  Carl:  '*  ve  vill  go  only  on  proof.  Make  a 
court-martial  to  sit  on  him." 

27 


314  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Daniels  with  calm  dignity,  touched 
with  a  certain  cool  contempt  for  his  captors,  *'  you  only  show 
your  ignorance  and  folly  by  these  proceedings.  I  have  been 
actuated  by  a  sincere  desire  to  serve  you ;  and  this  is  my 
reward !  You  are  like  the  cat  that  bites  the  hand  that  is 
binding  up  her  wounds.  You  will  see  it  some  time,  and  be 
ashamed  of  this.  And  you,  Alfred,  especially,  —  I  thought 
you  had  more  confidence  in  me.  I  believed  you  had  more 
heart  and  more  good  sense  than  to  join  in  such  a  silly  piece 
of  business  I  " 

His  voice  changed,  and  there  was  a  degree  of  tenderness 
in  his  manner ;  and  contempt  gave  place  to  sad  disappoint- 
ment, as  he  addressed  the  boy ;  and  the  boy,  called  by  his 
name  almost  for  the  first  time  since  his  mother  sent  him  from 
her  with  blessings  and  tears,  was  deeply  moved.  He 
trembled  as  he  replied,  — 

"  It  is  not  a  silly  business,  sir  ;  but  altogether  too  serious. 
I  hope  from  my  heart  that  you  can  clear  yourself  from  the 
charges  against  you :  for  you  have  shown  kindness  to  me ; 
and  I  —  I  wish  you  well." 

*'  Be  sure  I  can  clear  myself."  Daniels  smiled,  as  if  well 
pleased  to  see  the  boy's  emotion.  "  But  I  must  first  know 
what  the  charges  are." 

"You  shall,  and  have  every  chance  to  defend  yourself," 


DANIELS.  315 

said  Cy.  "  But  understand,  once  for  all,  there's  to  be  no 
trifling.  We  have  no  time  to  throw  away.  It  is  a  matter  of 
life  or  death  to  you,  sir,  and  may  be  to  us.  We  have  every 
reason  to  believe  you  are  a  rebel  spy,  and  that  you  have  be- 
trayed us.  Prove  the  contraiy,  and  I  for  one  will  thank  you 
for  taking  a  disagreeable  job  oflf  our  hands.  That  job  is,  to 
hang  you  if  you  fail !  " 

"What!  murder  me?"  And  Daniels  shook  his  head 
with  a  smile  which  was  half  a  sneer. 

"  No,  not  murder ;  for  it  will  be  a  deed  of  necessity. 
If  we  could  convey  you  a  prisoner  to  our  lines,  then  you 
should  have  a  regular  trial,  and  die  if  proved  guilty.  But 
we  can't  have  a  prisoner  on  our  hands :  you  see  that.  So, 
as  Carl  suggests,  you  shall  have  a  trial  here,  —  slightly  ir- 
regular, it  may  be  :  but  I'll  see  that  justice  is  done  ;  and,  if 
proved  guilty,  you  die  here." 

Cy  spoke  with  a  dignity  and  solemnity  which  surprised  his 
companions,  and  which  all  admired  the  more,  because  they 
had  never  suspected  what  a  noble  and  splendid  spirit  was  in 
him.  They  knew  his  bravery ;  but  that  passed  for  nothing 
extraordinary  with  men  who  were  equally  brave.  Now,  how- 
ever, they  saw  hun  assume  the  stern  and  impressive  chai-acter 
of  a  judge. 

Daniels  was  conveyed  to  the  concealment  of  the  savins, 


316  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

and  made  to  sit  down  upon  the  lodge,  surrounded  bj  a  strong 
guard  of  his  captors. 

"  I  see  you  have  your  nuts  cracked  and  fruit  gathered," 
he  remarked  with  philosophical  coolness.  "Allow  me  to  sug- 
gest that  you  proceed  to  breakfast,  and  try  me  afterwards. 
Men  ai'e  more  apt  to  exercise  patience  and  do  justice  on  a 
full  stomach  than  when  exasperated  with  hunger." 

"  As  you  please,"  said  Cy.  "  But  understand,  if  we  are 
attacked  prematurely,  or  if  you  attempt  to  escape,  we  kill 
you  without  a  trial." 

"  Very  well.  I  am  in  your  power.  You  will  do  what 
you  like." 

"  Breakfast  it  is,  then.  By  the  time  we  have  eaten,  Jake 
will  be  here.  Help  yourself,  stranger:  you  shall  not  be 
tried  and  hung  on  an  empty  stomach." 

"  Thank  you  :  you  are  very  thoughtful !  "  And  the  spy 
ate  as  fi-eely  and  unconcernedly  as  any. 

Carl  brought  more  persimmons;  others  cracked  the  rest  of 
the  nuts.  They  guarded  their  prisoner,  and  kept  a  lookout 
for  the  enemy,  while  they  feasted.  Before  the  repast  was 
ended,  Jake  arrived. 

He,  too,  looked  giim  and  pleased. at  sight  of  the  captive  ; 
and  he,  too,  brought  evidence  that  then*  presence  in  the  woods 
was  known  to  the  enemy.     He  had  penetrated  to  their  south- 


DANIELS.  317 

era  edge,  and  seen  scouts  galloping  along  a  cross-road  on  that 
side  also. 

"  Time's  a  precious  article ;  and  I  move  we  proceed  to  the 
trial  at  once  !  "  said  Cy. 

"  Hang  him  without  a  trial,  I  say !  "  exclaimed  Enos, 
fearful  of  delay. 

"  Mr.  Grumblett,  you  please  let  your  wittles  stop  your 
mouth,"  said  Carl  drjjy.  Then,  addressing  the  rest:  **I 
move  Cy  Thurston  is  appointed  judge-adwocate  of  this  court- 
martial." 

The  motion  was  carried  unanimously,  and  Cy  gravely  nod- 
ded acceptance  of  the  office. 

"The  detail  for  the  court  is  as  follows,"  —  the  judge- 
advocate  proceeded  at  once  to  declare:  "  Jake  Evarts,  Joel 
Bangs,  Greorge  "Weston,  Medad  Parker,  Fred  E,ivers,  and 
Lyman  Waterhouse.  Gentlemen,  hold  up  your  right  hands. 
You  do  solemnly  swear  to  perform  your  duty  on  this  court- 
martial  to  the  best  of  your*  ability,  without  prejudice,  fear,  or 
favor  :  so  help  you,  God." 

The  oath  was  taken.  Then  the  judge-advocate  said, 
"  Jake  Evarts,  being  the  first  in  rank,  is  president  of  this 
court-martial.  INIr.  President,  you  will  please  administer 
the  oath  to  the  judge-advocate." 

Cy  took  the  oath,  and  continued :  — 

27* 


318  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"If  the  person  about  to  be  tried  objects  to  anj'  member 
named  being  allowed  to  sit,  lie  is  at  liberty  to  state  his  ob- 
jections." 

"  Grentlemen,"  said  the  spy,  with  more  emotion  than  he 
had  hitherto  betrayed,  "I  see  you  are  determined  to  carry 
out  your  pm-pose  to  a  desperate  extremity.  You  therefore 
compel  me  to  make  known  a  secret  which  I  had  the  best 
reasons  for  wishing  kept  locked  in  my  own  breast." 

Fred's  heart  gave  a  leap  of  glad  expectancy.  "  Oh ! 
now,"  thought  he,  "the  mystery  is  to  be  cleared  up,  and 
we  shall  know  he  is  an  innocent  man ! "  For,  notwith- 
standing his  reason  was  convinced  of  the  contrary,  his  heart 
still  clung  to  the  hope  that  there  was  some  mistake  ;  that 
this  strange  man,  who  had  befriended  him,  and  shown  so 
many  noble  traits,  was,  after  all,  loyal  to  the  cause  of  Free- 
dom and  the  Right,  and  not  the  traitor  he  seemed. 

What,  then,  was  the  breathless  interest  with  which  the 
boy  listened,  what  his  horror  and  despair,  when  Daniels, 
fixing  his  intense,  deep,  reproachful  eyes  upon  him,  said,  — 

"That  boy  must  not  be  a  member  of  this  mock- court ! 
I  see  you  mean  to  murder  me ;  and  I  say  it  is  not  fit  that 
a  son  should  unite  in  pronouncing  the  death-sentence  on 
his  own  father.  My  name  is  Daniel  S.  Rivers,  of  Adair 
County,  Kentucky.  He  is  my  only  son;  and  this  is  the 
portrait  of  his  mother." 


DANIELS.  319 

He  drew  from  his  breast  a  miniature,  whicTi  be  extended 
towards  the  boy.  But  Alfred,  pale  as  death,  staring  glassi- 
ly,  kept  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  face  of  the  spy,  and  did  not 
glance  at  the  portrait,  nor  reach  forth  his  hand ;  appearing, 
indeed,  like  one  altogether  stunned  and  paralyzed  by  what 
he  had  just  heard. 

Cy  took  the  miniature,  however ;  and,  having  looked  at 
it,  passed  it  to  Jake. 

"The  likeness  is  genuine:  it  is  Mrs.  Elvers  as  she  was 
ten  or  twelve  years  ago." 


320  THE    THUEE    SCOUTS. 


XXXI. 

THE   COURT-MARTIAL. 

HIS  unexpected  revelation,  and  tbe  unques- 
tionable proof  accompanying  it,  produced  a 
profound  sensation  among  the  rude  men  inter- 
ested in  the  trial.  The  expression  of  earnestness  and  so- 
lemnity which  each  dark  countenance  wore  was  intensified. 
There  was  a  pause  of  some  seconds ;  and  then  Cy  Thurston 
spoke :  — 

*'  Gentlemen  of  the  court-martial,  it  might,  perhaps,  be 
expected  that  what  the  prisoner  has  just  said  should  operate 
in  his  favor.  But  we  have  sworn  before  Almighty  Grod  to 
conduct  this  trial  without  prejudice,  fear,  or  favor ;  and  his 
assertion,  that  he  is  the  father  of  our  young  comrade  here, 
rather  tells  against  him  than  otherwise.  I  have  known  Mrs. 
Rivers  many  years,  and  I  know  something  of  what  that 
noble-spu-ited  woman  has  been  made  to  suffer  on  his  account. 
And  as  for  Fred,  he  owes  every  thing  to  his  mother;  but,  to 
his  father,  nothing  but  family  sorrow  and  disgrace.     I  make 


THE    COURT-MARTIAL.  321 

this  plain  statement  simply  to  offset  the  temptation  some  of 
you  may  feel  to  violate  your  oaths  through  a  mistaken  pity. 
And  now  I  will  show  you  the  strong  point  which  the  prison- 
er has  unconsciously  made  against  hhnself.  By  claiming 
Fred  as  his  son,  he  has  explained  away  what  appeared  the 
only  evidence  of  his  loyalty  to  our  cause,  —  his  kindness  to 
this  boy.  It  was  not  because  he  loved  the  old  flag,  and 
those  who  were  fighting  for  it,  but  because  he  felt  remorse 
for  having  betrayed  his  own  flesh  and  blood.  However,  I 
consider  his  objection  to  Fred's  remaining  a  member  of  the 
court-martial  a  very  reasonable  one.  Besides,  we  shall  need 
him  as  a  witness." 

Fred,  in  the  mean  time,  had  sat  in  a  sort  of  stupor,  —  the 
figures  before  his  eyes,  and  the  voice  of  the  judge-advocate 
ringing  in  his  eai'S,  no  more  to  him  than  the  ghastly  phan- 
toms of  a  sick  dream, 

**  Oh !  "  said  ho,  when  told  that  he  was  excused  from  the 
court-martial :  ''  the  trial  ?  the  trial  ?     Is  it  going  on  ?  " 

*' Yes,"  said  Cy;  "  and  we  want  you  now  to  tell  every 
thing  you  know  about  this  man.  What  we  want  is  the 
truth ;  and,  if  it  is  in  his  favor,  so  much  the  better :  but  let  it 
be  the  tnith,  the  whole  tiiith,  and  nothing  but  the  truth." 

None  who  looked  upon  him  —  not  even  the  prisoner, 
j^bosc  searching  eyes  were  scarcely  for  an  instant  removed 


322  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

from  the  lioy  —  knew  what  a  terrible  strugfo;lo  was  takinpj 
place  in  his  heart.  But  now  it  proved  too  much  for  all  his 
powers  of  self-control. 

"  0  my  father,  my  father  !  "  he  cried  out  in  an  agony 
of  remorse  and  grief;  and,  hobbling  upon  the  ledge,  he  threw 
himself,  sobbing  convulsively,  upon  the  neck  of  the  stern  pa- 
rent,  so  long  lost,  and  loved  at  last  too  late. 

The  spy  folded  him  tenderly  in  his  arms,  and  smoothed  his 
cheek  and  patted  his  shoulder  with  his  hands ;  and  all  the 
while  the  features  of  that  imperturbable,  calm  face  scarcely 
moved,  but  a  light  from  within  —  the  radiance  of  a  proud 
and  satisfied  soul  —  shone  through  them,  and  his  eyes  were 
suffused  with  mist.  There  was  something  sublime  in  that 
lofty,  thrilled  expression  ;  and  more  than  one  who  saw  it,  and 
heard  at  the  same  time  the  sobs  of  the  boy,  let  fall  sudden 
tears,  or  choked  them  back. 

"  There,  there,  Alfred  !  I  don't  blame  you.  You  have 
done  your  best :  I  also  have  done  my  best.  I  have  always 
loved  you,  and  yeai-ned  for  you.  I  knew  you,  when  I  saw 
you  that  first  evening,  from  your  resemblance  to  this  portrait, 
—  to  your  mother  !  " 

"  And  it  is  for  me  that  you  must  die  !  and  I  betrayed 
you !  " 

"  Oh,  no,  not  you! — you  have  not  betrayed  me,  my 
boy  !  " 


THE    COURT-MARTIAL.  323 

* '  I  did,  I  did  !  When  I  saw  you  talking  with  the  rebel 
captain  this  morning  before  day,  then  Carl  told  me  what 
you  were,  but  left  it  all  with  me  whether  we  should  tell  the 
rest ;  and  I  told  them  !  And,  when  we  saw  you  in  the 
woods  with  old  Joel,  he  left  it  with  me  again  ;  and  I  called 
you  :  for  I  knew  you  would  come  to  me ;  and  I  knew,  if 
you  did  come,  you  would  be  taken  and  killed  !  Oh !  why 
didn't  you  tell  me  before  that  you  were  my  father  ?  or  why 
have  you  told  me  at  all  ?  " 

"  I  tell  you  now,  that  you  may  not  have  a  hand  in  my 
death,"  said  the  spy  very  gently.  "  And  I  did  not  tell  you 
before,  because  I  did  not  wish  you  to  know  who  I  was  until 
—  but  no  matter  for  that.  The  time  will  come  when  you 
will  know  that  I  have  acted  from  as  conscientious  motives  as 
any  of  you  here.  Some  things  you  will  understand  better 
than  you  do  now  :  then  you  will  not  blame  me  ;  and  then  it 
will  be  much  for  you  to  know  that  you  had  no  hand  in  my 
murder." 

"  Fred,"  said  Cy  kindly  as  a  brother,  laying  hold  of  the 
boy's  arm  to  remove  him,  "we  will  excuse  you  even  from 
giving  your  testimony.  What  the  rest  of  us  know,  and 
what  Carl  can  swear  to,  will  be  sufficient ;  for  the  trial  must 
go  on." 

"  You  see,  they  are  determined  to  have  my  life,"  said  the 


324  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

spy  vrith  a  smile.  "  I  forgive  them  too  :  they,  no  doubt,  act 
as  conscientiously  from  their  views  and  belief  as  I  have  done 
from  mine.  So,  be  a  man,  Alfred  !  be  worthy  of  your  mother 
and  of  me  !  " 

Then  Fred  controlled  himself,  and  looked  up. 

"  Kiss  me,  father  !     Say  you  forgive  me  !  " 

And  his  father  kissed  him  and  forgave  him ;  and,  after 
that,  Cy  took  him  away. 

The  trial  then  went  on.  Carl  gave  his  testimony,  which 
alone  would  have  been  sufficient  to  convince  any  one  of  the 
prisoner's  guilt,  even  had  they  known  no  more. 

"Have  you  any  questions  to  ask?"  said  Cy,  addressing 
Mr.  Rivers  after  Carl  had  finished. 

"  It  would  be  useless.  The  boy  has  told  the  truth  —  as 
far  as  he  could  possibly  know  the  truth  —  with  remarkable 
clearness  and  precision.  There  is  a  passage  in  Scripture 
something  like  this :  '  Judge  not  from  appearances,  but  judge 
righteous  judgment.'  But  I  perceive  that  you  are  bound  to 
judge  from  appearances,  and  to  judge  unrighteous  judg- 
ment." 

"  No  doubt,"  then  said  the  judge-advocate,  addressing 
the  court,  "if  we  judged  this  man's  acts  from  his  own 
point  of  view,  we  should  consider  that  he  had  done  right. 
So,  from  their  own  point  of  view,  we  should  excuse  the  au- 


THE    COURT-MAETIAL.  325 

thors  of  this  infamous  Rebellion,  which  has  plunged  the  coun- 
try in  war,  and  desolated  so  many  households,  and  cost  so 
many  lives.  So,  by  seeing  every  criminal  as  he  sees  himself, 
we  might  excuse  his  crime,  on  the  plea  of  fancied  necessity 
or  ignorance  or  passion.  But  there  is  another  point  of  view. 
We  are  to  judge  by  a  standard  of  law  and  equity.  This 
man  is  proved  to  be  a  spy  in  the  service  of  the  rebels ;  and, 
by  the  laws  of  war,  a  spy,  if  found  guilty,  is  worthy  of 
death,  even  if  he  is  a  spy  in  a  good  cause  :  but  this  man  is 
a  spy  in  the  worst  and  wickedest  cause  that  ever  convulsed  a 
country  with  war.  All  his  sympathies  are  on  that  side. 
You  remember  how  respectfully  he  has  always  spoken  of  the 
Confederates;  you  remember  how  averse  he  was  to  our 
firing  on  them  last  evening,  when  we  were  running  for  our 
lives.  And  now  I  ask  you  to  consider  all  his  acts  of  which 
you  have  any  knowledge,  and  then  decide  whether  it  is  safe 
for  us,  safe  for  our  country,  to  suffer  such  a  man  to  live. 
In  the  fii'st  place,  he  spied  out  our  position,  and  led  the  rebels 
to  attack  us  ;  and  that  has  been  £he  cause  of  all  our  subse- 
quent misfortunes." 

"  Excuse  me,  sir,"  interposed  the  prisoner ;  "  but,  now  that 
you  know  my  relation  to  the  boy,  do  you  think  it  probable 
that  I  would  direct  an  attack,  when  I  knew  his  life  would 
be  endangered?  " 

28 


326  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  I  remember  hearing  the  rebels  say,  after  tliey  captui-ed 
lis,"  Thurston  replied,  "  that  the  attack  was  made  premature- 
ly ;  that  it  was  the  original  intention  to  move  later,  but  with 
a  larger  force.  In  that  case,  Fred  would  have  been  relieved ; 
and  you  probably  knew  it.  But  when  you  saw  how  the  plan 
was  changed,  no  doubt  against  youi'  recommendation  and 
wishes,  you  accompanied  the  party  in  order  to  save  your  son 
from  the  mischief  you  were  glad  enough  to  bring  upon  the 
rest  of  us.  But,  gentlemen  of  the  court,  words  are  of  not 
much  account.  It  is  very  evident  that  this  man  gave  the 
rebels  a  hint  last  evening  of  the  route  he  intended  to  lead 
us,  or  they  would  not  have  come  so  close  upon  our  heels : 
and,  having  got  us  into  the  woods,  he  stole  into  the  rebel 
camp  this  morning  before  light,  and  eoncei-ted  a  scheme  for 
entrapping  us ;  a  part  of  which,  without  dOubt,  was  the  safe 
removal  of  this  boy.  Now  for  Fred's  sake,  whom  we  all 
love,  I  should  like  to  see  this  part  of  the  plan  earned  out. 
But  we  owe  a  duty  to  oui'selves  and  our  country  as  well  as  to 
him.  That  duty  compels  us  to  put  this  man  to  death.  Mr. 
President  and  gentlemen,  it  is  for  you  to  decide  whether 
you  will  do  your  duty,  and  keep  your  oaths ;  or  fail  in  your 
duty,  and  violate  your  oaths." 

The  judge-advocate  ceased ;  having  impressed  every  one 
by  his  dignity  of  manner  and  natural  eloquence,  which  proved 


THE    COURT- MARTIAL.  327 

how  much  native  ability  as  well  as  heroism  lie's  latent  in 
hundreds  of  our  familiar  acquaintances,  waiting  only  for  a  fit 
occasion  to  call  it  forth. 

The  members  of  the  court  conferred  together  in  whispers. 
The  rest  were  silent.  Fred  did  not  dare  to  look  at  his  father ; 
he  did  not  dare  to  read  that  father's  fate  in  the  countenances 
of  his  comrades.  The  strange  quiet  of  the  woods,  and  the 
beauty  of  the  morning  sunlight  gilding  and  spotting  them, 
seemed  all  a  sickening  mockery  to  his  senses  :  so  he  shut  out 
all  sight  from  his  eyes,  and  sat  with  his  face  buried  in  his 
hands,  as  the  trial  drew  to  a  close. 

As  for  the  spy,  he  was  apparently  the  least  disturbed  of 
any  person  present.  There  was  no  symptom  of  levity  or 
bravado  about  him  ;  on  the  contrary,  he  seemed  perfectly  well 
aware  of  the  terrible  seriousness  of  the  crisis  to  which  his 
career  had  come  :  yet  you  would  have  said  that  his  mind  had 
been  long  made  up  to  meet  the  event  with  perfect  calmness, 
an  adamantine  will,  and  a  spirit  schooled  to  keep  its  own 
counsel  through  every  vicissitude  of  fate. 

*'  Mr.  President  and  gentlemen,"  said  the  judge-advocate,. 
*'  time  presses.     Have  you  agreed  upon  a  verdict?  " 

''  We  have." 

"  Is  the  prisoner  guilty^  or  not  guilty  ?  " 

''Guilty." 


328  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"  Prisoner,"  said  the  jaclge-advocate,  "you  have  heard 
the  decision^of4he^.^ppurt.  Have  .you  any  thmg  to  say  why 
sentence  of  death  should  not  presently  be  pronounced  upon 
you?" 

"  A  few  words  I  have  to  say,"  rephed  the  spy  in  an 
equable  tone  of  voice,  and  with  a  look  of  strange  confidence 
in  the  justice  of  bis  cause,  if  not  in  his  power  to  avert  the 
sentence.  "  Since  it  has  come  to  this,  and  I  am  forced  to 
break  silence"  — 

Fred  uncovered  his  face,  and  lifted  his  eyes  to  his  father 
with  an  expression  the  most  eager,  prayerful,  despairing, 
which  any  who  witnessed  it  had  ever  beheld.  His  father 
saw,  and  smiled. 

But,  before  he  could  proceed  with  his  plea,  Enos  Crumlett, 
who  had  been  set  to  act  as  a  sentinel  for  the  party  during  the 
trial,  came  rushing  to  the  spot. 

"  Here's  some  cavalry-men  coming  up  along  by  the 
woods  !  "  he  wildly  whispered. 

*'  Be  quiet!  "  said  Cy  authoritatively.  "  Guard  the  pris- 
oner !     Kill  him  if  he  tries  to  escape  !  " 

"  Tlie  court  will  take  an  intermission  of  six  minutes  to 
squint  at  the  enemy,"  said  Jake,  lifting  his  musket  with  a 
sparkle  of  gayety  in  his  eyes,  kindled  by  the  prospect  of  a 
fiirht. 


A     CAPTURE    AND    AN    ESCAPE.  329 


XXXII. 

A    CAPTURE  AND  AN  ESCAPE. 

» 
Y  and  Carl  crept  through  the  savins  to  recon- 
noitre. The  cavalry-men,  six  in  number,  were 
galloping  by  the  edge  of  the  barren  field.  Be- 
hind them,  more  slowly,  rode  the  most  thoroughly  brigandish- 
looking  fellow  of  them  all,  examining  carefully  the  woodside 
with  eyes  that  gleamed  out  from  between  a  slouched  hat 
above,  and  an  immense  beard  and  projecting  red  nose  below. 
He  wore  a  jingling  sabre,  and  was  studded  all  over  with 
pistols. 

"It  is  Mr.  Grumblett's  friend,  the  captain  ! ''  observed 
Carl,  peeping  from  a  bush. 

Mr.  Crumlett's  friend,  the  captain,  was  passing  on,  follow- 
ing his  companions,  who  were  already  disappearmg  over  a 
hill ;  when  suddenly  the  savins,  which  grew  thickly  all  along 
that  side  of  the  woods,  excited  his  attention.  He  checked 
his  horse,  and  rode  back  along  the  edge  of  them ;  reining 


330  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

straiglit  towards  the  clump,  surrounding  tlie  ledge  where  the 
boys  had  cracked  their  nuts  and  tried  their  man. 

"By  lightning!"  said  Jake  through  his  teeth,  "we'll 
have  to  kill  that  buck  !  " 

But  Cy  restrained  him,  aware  that  a  shot  would  spoil 
every  thing.  Something  was  to  be  done,  however,  or,  in  a 
minute,  the  fugitives  would  be  discovered. 

"  Yait  vile  I  try  some  trick  !  "  And  Carl,  stepping  from 
behind  his  bush,  appeared  in  full  view  of  the  advancing 
rebel. 

The  latter  pulled  rein,  and  drew  a  pistol  in  an  instant. 

"  Wery  pleased  to  meet  you  vonce  more  !  "  said  Carl  with 
a  bland  smile,  unshrinkingly. 

"  Advance  !  "  commanded  the  captain.  "  You're  my 
prisoner !  " 

"I'm  most  happy  to  adwance  and  be  anypody's  prisoner 
as  vill  protect  me  and  my  pishtols." 

''  Your  pistols  ?     Give  them  to  me  !  " 

"  That  is  just  vat  I  was  proposing  to  do.  Yen  I  see  you 
last,  you  say  to  me,  '  Next  time  you  come  through  the  lines, 
pring  pishtols,  pring  pishtols  ! '  you  say." 

"  And  where  are  they  ?  " 

"  You  come  into  the  voods  just  a  little  vay,  and  I  vill 
show  you.     Yen  I  see  your  soldiers,  I  vas  afraid  :  but  I  re- 


A     CAPTURE    AND    AN    ESCAPE.  3S1 

member  your  wery  benevolent  countenance ;  and  I  say  to 
myself,  '  He  vill  protect  me,  and  pay  for  my  pishtols.'  " 

"  Yes,  I  recollect,"  said  the  captain,  after  musing  grimly 
a  moment.  "You're  the  Dutch  peddler.  You  did  well  to 
smuggle  pistols." 

"  You  yait  here,  and  I  vill  run  and  get  'em.  You  see," 
said  Carl,  "  I  get  into  some  wery  pad  scrapes  vith  my  smug- 
gling; and  some  things  must  be  kept  out  of  wiew." 

"Halt ! "  —  as  Carl  was  going.     "  How  far  is  it ?  " 

"  I  shall  not  be  gone  more  as  three  or  four  rods." 

"  Not  if  I  go  with  you  ;  but,  if  you  go  alone,  I'm  afrciid 
you'll  forget  to  stop  !  Have  you  seen  any  Yankee  runaways 
in  these  woods?  " 

"  I  have  seen  some  men  a  little  vile  ago  :  but  I  thought 
they  vas  Conwhederates ;  and,  as  I  said,  I  vas  afraid." 

"  Where  did  you  see  them  ?  " 

"  Shall  I  tell  you  first,  or  shall  ve  see  to  the  pishtols  ?  " 

"  You  look  like*  an  honest  boy  !  "  said  the  captain,  eying 
him  sharply.  "But  mmd,  if  you  fool  me,  you  will  get 
pistols  enough  !  " 

"Yes,  I  see,  you  have  a  wast  wariety!  "  remarked  Carl 
with  a  smile,  glancing  from  the  captain's  belt  to  his  boots. 
"Yat  a  pretty  little  popper  that  is!" — as  the  captain 
drew  one,  and  cocked  it.  -  , 


332  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

He  was  gaping  admiringly  at  the  weapon,  and  drawing 
near  as  if  to  examine  it,  when  the  captain's  ear  caught  a 
rustle  and  his  eye  a  movement  behind  tho  bushes,  in  among 
which  he  had  remed  his  horse.  Instantly  up  leaped  Cy  and 
Jake  with  gleaming  guns.  Simultaneously,  spurs  were  struck 
into  the  horse's  flanks,  and  the  pistol  aimed  and  snapped. 
But  Cai'l  caught  the  bridle,  and  the  pistol  missed  fire  ; 
and,  before  another  could  be  snatched  from  belt  or  holsters, 
Carl  had  seized  the  captain's  arm,  and  was  dragging  him  to 
the  ground. 

"  Help !  "  cried  the  rebel,  as  he  saw  Jake  and  Cy  rush- 
ing to  the  boy's  assistance. 

"  You  stop  that  holler,  or  you  die  joking  !  "  And  Carl, 
for  tho  third  time  that  morning,  applied  persuasive  fingers  to 
another's  wmdpipe. 

The  captain  succumbed,  and  was  carried  "  into  court," 
as  Jake  termed  it.  There,  his  arms  taken  from  him,  he 
was  permitted  to  sit  upon  the  ground,  and  look  around  upon 
the  strange  group  and  unexpected  scene  in  the  midst  of 
which  he  found  himself. 

"  For  the  pishtols  it  vas  my  intention  to  show  you,  these 
here  is  the  wery  articles,"  said  Carl,  assorting  the  weapons. 
"  Ve  captured  a  whole  arsenal  ven  ve  captured  you  !  And, 
for  the  men  I  had  seen  a  little  vile  ago,  they  vas  your  own 
cavalry,  —  all  but  these,  vich  is  some  friends  of  mine." 


A    CAPTURE    AND    AN    ESCAPE.  333 

**  Stranger,  do  you  know  that  man?"  said  Cy;  for  the 
captain's  eyes,  after  peering  about  him  curiously  for  a  min- 
ute, had  rested  on  the  spy. 

The  captain  nodded  three  times,  slowly  wagging  his  head 
up  and  down,  and  parting  his  lips  with  a  malign  smile. 

"  Is  this  your  work,  Daniels  ?  Well,  next  tune  I  suspect 
a  man,  I'll  hang  hini  first,  and  investigate  afterwards  ! " 

"  That  is  a  goot  notion,  and  may  be  ve  shall  inwestigate 
your  case  in  the  same  vay.  I  go  for  the  halter  from  that 
horse  :  it  vill  come  in  fashion  on  some  necks  !  "  And  Carl 
went  to  bring  it. 

"  But  you  do  wrong  to  suspect  your  friend,  captain,"  said 
Cy.  "  He  has  served  you  only  too  well ;  and  that  service 
has  cost  hun  his  life."     And  he  explained. 

"  Is  it  so  ?  "  said  the  captain.  ^'  Daniels,  I  beg  your  par- 
don ;  but  don't  be  disturbed.  My  fellows  will  be  here  for 
me  in  five  minutes;  and  they'll  avenge  as  well,  I  promise 
you,  if  a  hair  of  our  heads  is  injured." 

"  In  that  case,"  said  Jake,  "  we  must  hurry  up.  The 
sentence  of  the  court  is,  Daniels,  that  you  be  hanged  by  the 
neck,  from  that  beech-tree,  with  the  captain's  halter,  until 
you  are  dead  !  " 

'*  But  he  was  going  to  speak  !  "  broke  forth  Fred.  "  He 
was  going  to  say  something  why  sentence  should  not  be 
passed.     You  said  he  might,  Cy  !  " 


334  THE    THREE   SCOUTS. 

"  And  so  lie  shall,  if  be  will  speak  quick !  " 

The  spy  glanced  from  Fred  to  the  captain  with  a  gloomy 
expression,  as  if  it  was  the  presence  of  the  latter  that  closed 
his  mouth  ;    and  answered  in  a  solemn,  firm  voice,  — 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say." 

"  Nothing  ?     My  father !  nothing  ?    Oh,  don't  say  that !  " 

*'  Fred !  "  —  and,  as  Cy  spoke,  he  himself  was  well-nigh 
overcome  with  emotion,  —  "  don't  feel  too  bad  !  It  can't  be 
helped.  We  are  obliged  to  do  it ;  or,  God  knows,  I  wouldn't 
for  all  the  world  !  " 

"  Tie  his  hands  behind  him,  Carl !  "  said  Jake. 

"Thank  you,"  replied  Carl.  "I  vas  only  a  vitness  in 
this  trial :  I  vas  not  the  court,  and  I  am  not  the  sheriff." 
And,  having  brought  the  halter,  he  would  not  lift  a  finger 
to  aid  in  the  execution.  Phlegmatic  as  he  seemed,  his  heai't 
was  heaving  with  sympathetic  throes  at  the  sight  of  Fred's 
affliction ;  and  he  turned  away  his  face  to  conceal  what  was 
mastering  him. 

"  I'll  tie  'em  !  "  said  Enos  Crumlett. 

He  took  the  throat-latch,  which  Jake  had  stripped  from  the 
halter  for  the  purpose,  and  was  performing  with  shaky  hands 
the  service  for  which  he  had  volunteered,  hoping  thereby  to 
gain  credit  for  zeal  and  courage,  when  he  heard  a  movement 
behind  him,  and  looked  around. 


A     CAPTURE    AND    Ay    ESCAPE.  335 

The  captain,  taking  advantage  of  the  concentration  of  inter- 
est about  the  spy,  attempted  an  escape.  He  sprang  to  his 
feet,  knocking  down  Joel,  who  was  guarding  him ;  and  would 
have  got  out  of  the  savins,  and  into  the  open  field,  had  not 
Cj  and  Waterhouse  leaped  after  him  like  tigers,  seized,  and 
brought  him  down. 

Mr.  Crumlett,  as  I  said,  looked  around :  so  also  did 
Jake  and  his  assistants,  who  were  guarding  the  spy.  A 
rapid  turn,  a  swift  blow  or  two,  and  Jake  and  Crumlett 
went  down  in  a  heap  together  upon  the  ledge,  and  the 
prisoner  was  gone.  He  went  through  the  sa\ans  like  a  bird ; 
so  suddenly,  that  Weston  and  Parker,  attempting  to  grasp 
him,  only  grasped  each  other.  Carl,  betrayed  into  careless- 
ness by  his  own  feelings,  was  not  on  hand  to  render  assist- 
ance ;  and,  before  Jake  could  regain  his  feet,  the  spy,  mount- 
ing the  captain's  horse  at  a  bound,  was  galloping  through  the 
woods. 

Fred  jumped  up  eagerly  to  witness  the  flight  of  his  father, 
whose  death,  a  moment  before,  seemed  inevitable.  He 
strained  his  eyes ;  he  stood  tiptoe  on  the  ledge,  regai'dless  of 
pain.  Then,  when  the  fugitive  was  out  of  sight,  he  sank 
down  again  without  a  word,  his  hands  clinched,  his  teeth 
set,  and  his  features  convulsed  and  rigid. 


33G 


THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 


XXXIII. 


TffU  FIRST  ATTACK 


AL !  "  said  Jake,  looking  exceedingly  cheap, 
"I  guess  this  court  had  better  adjourn!  I 
hain't  had  such  a  blow  !  I  thought  thunder 
and  lio;htninor  had  kicked  me !  " 

*' I  could  have  fired  some  pishtols  at  him,"  said  Carl; 
"  but  that  vould  have  been  signals  for  the  rebs  !  "  And  he 
appeared  wonderfully  cheerful  as  he  saw  the  empty  halter  in 
Jake's  hands.  "  How  goes  it,  Fred?  He  is  in  a  conwul- 
sion  !  " 

Fred  recovered  himself  as  Carl  kindly  lifted  him  in  his 
arms. 

"Goot  times  is  coming,  Fred  !  The  court  takes  a  waca- 
tion  to  rub  its  eyes  open !  That  vas  a  veak  sentence ;  it 
could  not  hold :  and  the  shpy  is  gone,  and  you  are  glad  !  " 

"  I  am  not  glad,  and  I  am  not  sorry  !  "  said  Fred,  sitting 
up,  the  expression  of  his  countenance  gloomy  almost  to  fierce- 
ness.    "  It  was  hard  to  see  my  father  hung  ;  but  it  is  just  as 


THE    FIRST   ATTACK.  337 

hard  to  think  he  is  a  spy,  and  deserves  hanging  !  I  be- 
heved  — I  felt  —  he  might  have  cleared  himself;  but  you 
were  right,  boys  !  " 

"  We  shall  have  it  hot  here  pretty  quick,  I  reckon ! "  said 
Cy.     "  The  rebs  will  be  on  us  !  " 

"  That's  so  I  "  said  the  captain.  "  And  my  advice  to  you 
is,  to  give  yourselves  up,  and  receive  the  treatment  of  prison- 
ers of  war." 

"  Suppose  you  put  that  to  wote,  gentlemen.  In  mean  time, 
I  shall  appropriate  this  carvhig-knife."  And  Carl,  consider- 
ing himself  entitled  to  the  sabre  he  had  been  chiefly  instru- 
mental in  capturing,  buckled  the  belt  about  his  waist,  and 
stuck  one  of  the  captain's  stock  of  small  arms  into  it. 

"  What  say,  boys,"  cried  Jake  :  "  shall  we  fight,  or  sur- 
render? " 

"  Fight  when  we  can,  surrender  when  we  must ;  that's  my 
motto,"  said  Cy. 

A  vote  was  taken ;  and  all  agreed  with  Cy,  except  Fred 
and  Enos  Crumlett. 

"I'm  a  peace  man,"  said  Enos  with  a  white  and  ghastly 
smile.  "I  say,  Kun  when  we  can;  but  surrender  ruther'n 
fight  the  devils!  They're  so  reckless,  they  don't  mind 
killin'  a  feller  no  more'n  nothin' !  " 

"Just  vat  I  should  expect  from  a  disciple  of,Mishter 

29 


338  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Wallandigham !  "  remai'ked  Carl.  "But  I  didn't  expect 
you  vould  turn  coward  or  secesh,  Fred  !  " 

"Coward?  secesh?"  Fred's  eyes  blazed.  "I  said  I 
didn't  agree  with  Cy;  and  I  don't.  He  says,  '  Fight  when 
we  can;  surrender  when  we  must.'  I  say,  Fight  any  how, 
and  don't  suiTcnder  at  all  !  " 

"  That  is  vat  I  call  a  praisevorthy  sentiment!  It  vas 
mine  all  the  time ;  but  I  did  not  say  it,  fear  some  should 
think  I  vas  selfish." 

"How,  selfish,  Carl?" 

"  You  see,  Cy,  if  I  am  took  again,  I  shall  make  acquaint- 
ance vith  the  hanging  process  this  time,  wery  certain.  I  have 
preferences  for  fighting.  The  rest  of  you  may  be  treated 
prisoners  of  war  ;  and  so  I  shall  not  take  it  on  myself  to  give 
adwice." 

"Prisoners  of  war!  "  said  TVaterhouse  wrathfully.  "I 
have  had  two  brothers  die  in  their  inhuman  jails ;  and  do  you 
suppose  I  want  to  go  and  rot  and  starve  like  them  ?  Better 
die  here,  and  done  with  it !  " 

"  Fight  it  is,  then,  boys  !  "  said  Jake  with  a  quiet  chuckle. 

"  Fred,  you're  a  cripple;  and  it's  no  more  than  fair  you 
should  choose  your  weapon." 

"  Give  me  that  horse-pistol !  " 

"  You  make  a  goot  choice  for  your  veapon,  Fred  ;  but  I  vill 


THE    FIRST   ATTACK.  339 

tell  you  pefor«liand,  that  ammunitions  is  not  plenty  for  pish- 
tols.  I  have  taken  some  liberties  vith  the  pishtol-man's  pock- 
ets, and  I  conclude  he  vairs  the  small  arms  for  ornament. 
There  is  but  two  cartridges  for  the  pig  pishtols,  some  pullets 
for  the  little  arms,  and  just  three  charges  in  the  rewolwer. 
But  there  is  a  powder-flask  that  vill  be  velcome  !  " 

"  Give  it  to  me  !  Jake's  bullets  will  fit  this  bore  !  "  said 
Fred  with  a  lurid  smile.  "There'll  be  sport,  boys,  before 
we  are  quite  used  up  !  " 

"  When  the  ammunition  is  gone,  then  the  bayonets  !  "  said 

Cy. 

"  And  the  hatchet,  by  time  !  —  don't  forgit  the  hatchet !  " 
added  old  Joel. 

*'  And  the  rebel  carving-knife !  "  (Carl  rattled  his  sabre. ) 
'*  And  Mr.  Gramblett's  jack-knife,  he's  such  a  waliant 
chick!" 

''  ITush,  boys !  "  said  Parker :  "the  cavalry-men  are  com- 
ing back !  " 

"Hunting  for  their  lost  captain!"  laughed  Cy.  "Lie 
low,  and  keep  dark !  There  they  go !  they  don't  suspect ! 
Now,  boys,  get  every  one  a  good  position ;  but  don't  fire  till 
we're  discovered." 

"  Tell  me  if  any  thing  interesting  turns  up,"  said  Jake, 
nibbling  at  the  nuts  that  had  been  left  for  him.     ''  Seems  to 


340  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

me,  this  is  a  rather  slim  breakfast  for  fighting-men  !    I  vfkh.  I 
had  one  of  them  turnips  !  " 

"  Vat  turnips  ?  "  said  Carl,  starting  up  with  an  eagerness 
he  rarely  betrayed. 

"I  see  a  whole  field  on  'em  over  t'other  side  of  the 
woods  :  but  'twas  in  sight  of  the  rebs ;  so  I  kept  my  vandal 
hands  oJ0f."  ^ 

"  It  is  time  turnips  vas  pulled  !  Turnips  is  excellent  wege- 
tables.  If  I  see  some,  I  shall  not  keep  my  wandal  hands 
oflf!     Vair  did  you  see  your  turnip-patch,  Jake  ?  " 

Jake  informed  him  more  particularly,  but  warned  him 
against  attempting  to  get  any. 

"  Raw  turnips  is  goot  fodder  !  "  said  Carl  with  a  twinkle 
of  anticipation.  "  Gentlemen,  you  just  give  my  compliments 
to  the  rebs,  if  they  come.  Meanthne,  I  take  my  own  lisks, 
and  go  reconnoitre  some  turnips.'* 

He  stole  out  of  the  savins,  and  through  the  leafless,  sunny 
woods,  and  was  soon  out  of  sight. 

'*  Hello  !  "  said  Weston,  keeping  an  eye  out  towards  the 
north.     "  See  that  man  riding  up  the  road  over  the  hills !  " 

**  He  goes  like  Jehu  !  "  said  old  Joel. 

Fred,  whose  eyes  were  perhaps  the  best  in  the  crowd, 
gazed  long  at  the  flying  horseman ;  then,  as  the  latter  dis- 
appeared in  a  gorge  that  opened  among  the  hazy,  cedar- 


THE    FIRST   ATTACK.  341 

crowned  bills,  lie  said  quietly,  tlirougli  bis  close-beld 
teetb,  — 

*'  That  man  is  my  fatber,  on  tbe  captain's  borse  !  " 

"  G-oing  for  re-enforcements,"  observed  Cy.  *'  One  com- 
pany of  rebel  cavalry  ain't  enougb  to  venture  an  attack  on 
a  squad  of  Yankee  runaways  !  " 

"Look  bere,  friend  captam,"  said  Jake,  "bow  many 
bave  you  got  bunting  us?  " 

"  Enougb,  so  tbat  there  needn't  be  any  burry  about  beat- 
ing up  tbe  game.  There's  no  possible  escape  for  you;  and, 
if  more  men  are  needed  to  make  tbe  capture  easy,  more  are 
witbin  call." 

"  Wbat  cavalry  is  youi'S  ?  " 

"  Grruffley's  Riders.     "We  are  a  detacbed  company." 

"In  otber  words,  busbwbackers,"  said  Cy;  "more  po- 
Ktely  called  guerillas.     Is  your  name  Glruffley  ?  " 

Tbe  captain  nodded  witb  an  appropriately  ferocious 
smile. 

"  It  was  be  and  bis  men  tbat  murdered  old  Ellsmer  and 
bis  wife  !  "  said  Fred.     "  They  are  bloodtbirsty  cowards  !  " 

"  Tbey  took  part  in  tbe  attack  wben  we  were,  gobbled 
up,"  said  Cy.  "  And  now,  my  friend,  tell  us  bow  it  bap- 
pens  you  are  on  our  track  to-day." 

"I'll  tell  you  tbat;   for  I  see  you  suspect  my  friend 

29* 


34:2  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Daniels  unjustly,"  replied  the  captain,  pulling  his  beard. 
*'  You  couldn't  make  such  a  row  in  an  enemy's  country  as 
you  did  last  night,  without  receiving  attention.  Companies 
were  sent  out  for  you  in  every  du-ection  where  there  was  a 
possibility  of  overhauling  you.  I  happened  to  be  in  the 
neighborhood  with  my  men,  —  it  is  oui'  business  to  look  after 
such  little  jobs,  —  and  I  was  ordered  to  sweep  the  country  this 
way.  I  took  the  turnpike  to  head  you  off,  and  thi-ew  out 
scouts  on  all  the  roads.  You  almost  walked  over  one  of  my 
men :  his  horse  was  tied,  and  he  was  lying  on  the  ground  to 
let  you  pass  and  hear  what  you  were  saying.  He  made 
sure  of  the  course  you  were  travelling,  —  that  was  all  he 
could  do,  for  he  was  alone,  —  then  rode  to  find  mo.  That 
brought  us  to  this  hill.  I  sent  half  my  men  around  it,  and 
bivouacked  the  rest  on  the  east  side.  This  morning  I  found 
your  tracks  on  the  frosty  ground,  and  knew  I  had  trapped 
you." 

**  You  quite  forget  to  mention  one  very  important  thing, 
—  Daniels's  visit  to  your  bivouac  before  daylight  this  morn- 
ing."- 

*'  It  was  on  very  different  business  from  what  you  suppose. 
He  had  a  plausible  errand  to  me ;  no  matter  what :  but  I 
half  suspected  he  was  trying  to  find  out  my  business  and 
intentions.     I  didn't  enlighten  him  much.     So  he  left  me , 


THE    FIRST   ATTACK.  343 

and  it  seems,  from  talk  I  have  overheard  among  you,  he 
came  back  to  you.  I  remember  this  boy ;  and,  now  I  know 
he  is  Daniels's  son,  I  understand  some  things  that  looked  to 
me  suspicious  before." 

"  Oh,  I  was  sure  he  could  not  have  betrayed  us !  "  ex- 
claimed Fred.  **  He  may  be  a  rebel  and  a  spy  ;  I  know 
he  is :  but  he  couldn't  be  such  a  villain  !  " 

**  Perhaps  not,"  said  Cy.  *'  But  I  am  no  more  sure  of 
it  than  I  was  before.  You  defend  your  absent  friend  well, 
Captain  G-ruffley !  In  return,  I  suppose  he  will  bring  a 
regiment  or  two  of  your  brother  rebels  to  recapture  you." 

"Ha,  ha!"  laughed  Jake  quietly:  "there  come  your 
Riders  back,  looking  for  you,  captain  !  " 

"  And  SIX  more  with  'em !  "  said  Parker. 

"  They've  got  their  eyes  on  these  'ere  bushes  too  !  "  said 
old  Joel.     "  By  time  !  they're  steerin'  straight  towards  us !  " 

"  Take  aim  !  "  whispered  Cy. 

Each  man,  save  Enos  and  the  captain,  thrust  the  muzzle 
of  his  musket  or  pistol  through  the  bush  that  sheltered  him, 
and  waited. 

"  Don't  shoot  till  I  git  under  that  log  !  "  gasped  the  terri- 
fied INIr.  Crumlett;  and,  plunging  through  the  savins,  he 
made  a  rustling  that  alarmed  the  Riders. 

They  pulled  rein,    and,  rising  in  their  stirrups,  looked 


344  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

eagerly  over  into  the  clump  of  evergreens.  The  captain 
laughed,  —  noiselessly,  however ;  for  he  was  bound  to  a  bush 
by  the  halter  taken  from  his  horse ;  and  he  knew  that  there 
were  bayonets  ready  to  turn,  and  thrust  him  through,  if  he 
spoke  or  moved. 

The  Riders  called  his  name.  Receiving  no  answer,  they 
withdrew  a  few  rods,  and  consulted. 

"  They've  seen  us  !  "  said  Fred.  "  But  the  thicket  is  an 
ugly  place  to  charge  into.     Look  !  they're  going  to  fire  !  " 

Three  or  four  of  the  Riders  unslung  their  carbines,  and 
levelled  them. 

"They're  going  to  feel  on  us  that  way!"  said  Jake. 
*'  Chance  shots;  not  much  danger  :  don't  retui-n  'em  !  Say 
nothinoj  but  laugh  !  " 

Few  felt  like  laughing,  however.  There  was  a  gleam  of 
excitement  in  each  face,  as  it  watched  for  the  flashinor  of  the 
carbines.  It's  a  queer  sensation,  not  provocative  of  meni- 
ment,  to  see  a  row  of  steel  ban-els  aimed  at  you,  —  or  at  the 
bushes  that  conceal  you,  —  not  five  rods  oflT,  and  to  wait  for 
the  flame  and  the  bullets  !  The  moment  of  suspense  seems 
strangely  long ;  and  how  all  yom  senses  are  intensified  !  It 
requires  no  ordinary  degi-ee  of  courage,  and  strength  of  will, 
for  armed  men  to  stand  such  an  ordeal,  and  not  attempt  to 
avert  it  by  firing  first. 


THE    FIRST   ATTACK.  315 

lu  the  savins,  every  finger  was  at  its  trigger ;  but  not  a 
trigger  was  pulled.  The  carbines  blazed.  Crack,  crack  ! 
—  ping,  ping !  —  and  the  bullets,  with  short,  sharp  whizz 
and  clip,  came  cutting  the  twigs  close  around  the  ambushed 


And  now  there  was  a  laugh,  — a  savage,  silent  laugh.  It 
was  Jake's. 

"Told  ye  so!  They'll  try  again;  then  they'll  come 
nigher.     Then  we'll  give  'em  Hail  Columby  !  " 

"  Lie  flat,  Fred !  "  said  Cy,  ~  "  flat  on  your  belly  !  You 
expose  yourself!  " 

"  They  can't  see  me,"  replied  Fred;  "and,  if  I  get  any 
lower,  I  can't  see  them." 

"Is  this  fair,"  muttered  Gruffley,  —  "to  expose  a  pris- 
oner of  war  to  the  fire  of  his  own  men  ?  " 

"  You  stand  as  good  a  chance  as  any  of  us,  and  a  little 
better,"  said  Cy.  "  I'll  get  before  you."  And  he  magnani- 
mously changed  his  position,  so  as  to  cover  his  enemy's  body 
with  his  own. 

"  Now  we  have  it  again  !  "  said  Waterhouse. 

Half  a  dozen  scattered  shots,  fired  more  at  random,  came 
singing  among  the  savins. 

"By  time!  look  here!"  whispered  old  Joel;  and  he 
showed  the  handle  of  his  hatchet,  which  he  had  held  before 


346  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

bis  head  as  a  protection,  nicked  by  a  ball  that  bad  glanced 
off,  and  slashed  a  bne  three  inches  long  up  bis  coat-sleeve. 
"  If  t  hadn't  been  for  this,  'twould  have  split  my  collar-bone, 
and  like  as  not  played  the  mischief  with  me  gener'ly !  " 

And  he  laughed  too,  rejoiced  to  think  be  bad  not  left  bis 
hatchet  stickino;  in  the  tree,  where  he  bad  flunnr  it  at  the 
squin-el. 

"They  are  dismounting!"  said  Fred.  "No  show  for 
horses  in  this  brush  :  they're  going  to  make  a  dash  on  foot  ! 
Cy,  you  must  let  us  fire,  this  time  !     You  give  the  word  !  " 

"  Gruffley's  E.iders  turned  into  Gruffley's  Walkers  !  " 
joked  Cy.  "  They're  slinging  their  cai'bines  :  they're  going 
to  give  us  a  taste  of  the  sabre." 

"  Tell  'em  I  surrender,  I  surrender !  "  gasped  forth  Enos 
Crumlett,  putting  up  his  bead  from  behind  the  log,  and  dodg- 
ing out  of  sight  again  in  a  twinkling. 

"  They're  coming  !     Ready,  boys  !  "  muttered  Cy. 

With  sabres  in  air,  and  with  hideous  yells,  ten  of  the 
Eiders  (the  other  two  were  left  with  the  horses)  came  char- 
ging at  a  double-quick  towards  the  savins. 

"  Give  it  to  'em  !     Fire  !  "  cried  Cy. 

Flash,  flash,  flash !  bang,  bang,  bang !  from  the  muskets, 
mingled  with  sharper  reports  from  the  pistols ;  and  the  flame 
and  smoke  and  crackling  roar  burst  out  of  the  bushes  full 
into  the  faces  of  the  oncoming  assailants. 


THE    FIRST    ATT  A  C  K.  347 

There  was  a  momentary  cheek.  The  smoke  lifted.  Two  of 
the  rebels  were  seen  upon  the  ground  :  a  third  had  di-opped 
his  sabre  ;  his  arm  hung  shattered. 

"  Come  on,  come  on  !  "  shouted  the  Union  boys. 

Up  went  the  defiant,  bristling  bayonets  ;  aloft  glanced  the 
hatchet :  the  holders  of  the  pistols  lay  low,  and  reloaded. 

The  Riders,  although  temporarily  repulsed,  saw  but  four 
weapons  against  them  :  they  were  seven.  Rallying  at  once, 
they  rushed  to  avenge  their  woundod  and  slain.  Click, 
clash !  —  steel  met  steel,  the  sabre  the  bayonet ;  slash  and 
thrust,  shrieks  and  yells  I  Joel  hurled  his  hatchet :  lucky 
again.  No  rebel  could  dodge  as  a  squirrel  could  :  a  rebel's 
face  was  spoiled ;  the  rebel  himself  tumbled. 

And  what  was  this  ?  Another  sabre  from  behind,  with  a 
running  accompaniment  of  pistol-shots  ! 

It  was  Carl,  astonishing  to  behold ;  his  hat  off,  lost  upon 
the  wind  in  the  fervor  of  mnning  ;  his  sword-belt  thrust  fiill 
of  turnips,  with  the  tops  hanging  and  flapping  like  green 
fiinges  of  a  barbarian's  war-sash  ;  his  right  arm  brandishing 
the  captain's  blade,  his  left  filing  the  captain's  revolver ;  and 
himself  taking  marvellous  strides  to  join  the  fray. 

The  sight  of  him,  and  the  lusty  shouts  of  his  belligerent 
lungs,  sufficed  to  turn  the  scale  of  battle.  The  assailants 
showed  heels,  and  scampered  ;  that  is,  all  who  were  in  a  con- 


348  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

dition  to  scamper.  One  bad  been  killed  outrigbt.  A  ball 
from  Fred's  borse-pistol  bad  shattered  another's  knee.  ("  We 
generally  fire  too  bigb  wben  there's  excitement,"  said  Fred  : 
"so  I' thought  I'd  aim  low  enough.")  These  two  remained 
on  the  field.  A  third,  whom  Joel's  missile  had  damaged, 
was  only  stunned  :  he  had  been  struck  on  the  cheek-bone  by 
the  head  of  the  hatchet,  not  the  edge.  Recovering  himself,  he 
got  up ;  and,  seeing  what  his  companions  were  doing,  did  the 
same.  At  least  two  others  carried  with  them  disabling 
wounds. 

Cy  and  Jake  immediately  rushed  out,  and,  seizing  the 
fallen  Riders,  dragged  them  into  the  bushes.  Their  object 
was  twofold  :  first,  to  secure  their  arms  and  ammunition ;  next, 
to  see  what  could  be  done  for  the  men  themselves. 

Whilst  they  were  thus  occupied,  the  rest  were  busy  reload- 
ing. Grruffley,  who  had  been  waiting  for  this  chance,  slipped 
his  limbs  free  from  the  halter,  which  he  had  succeeded  in 
loosening,  leaped  over  Mr.  Crumlett's  log,  and  dashed,  not 
in  the  direction  of  his  defeated  friends,  but  into  the  deep 
woods.  Carl  fired  the  last  shot  from  his  revolver  at  him ; 
but  the  ball  was  intercepted  by  a  tree.  There  was  no  help 
for  it :  the  captain  had  escaped . 


IK  D  IAN    WARFARE.  349 


XXXIV. 


INDIAN   WARFARE. 


SHOULD  have  fired  some  turnips  at  bim ;  but 
that  is'  too  waluable  ammunition  to  lose  on  a 
rebel.  The  pullets  may  go  into  their  podies, 
and  velcome;  but  the  turnips  is  predestined  to  go  into  ours ! 
Lend  us  a  jack-knife,"  added  Carl,  *'  and  I  vHl  make  'em  into 
cartridges." 

"  How  did  you  get  'em,  Carl  ?  "  asked  Fred. 

"  There  vas  rebs  not  more  as  twenty  rods  off;  but  I  got 
fiat  on  the  ground  like  a  mud-turkle,  and  crawled.  Ven  I 
pulls  a  turnip,  I  takes  him  so,  and  slips  the  tops  down  through 
my  sword-belt.  Then,  ven  it  vas  full  all  around,  —more  tur- 
nips as  ever  the  captain  had  pishtols,  —  I  crawls  back  again ; 
not  quite  so  flat,  for  the  turnips  vas  not  vilhng.  '  Never 
mind,'  says  I :  '  you  are  outside  now ;  but  you  shall  be  inside 
soon.'  Then  I  hear  the  firing :  so  I  jumps  up,  and  runs, 
and  gets  here  just  in  time  to  see  some  shport." 

All  was  quiet  now  in  the  savins,  and  not  a  head  was  visible 


30 


350  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

to  the  rebels  on  either  side ;  for  they  were  on  more  than  one 
side  now.  Carl,  when  he  leaped  up  from  the  turnip-patch, 
had  been  discovered  :  three  swift-spurring  Riders  pursued, 
but  were  compelled  by  the  undergrowth  and  prudential  rea- 
sons to  haul  rein  on  the  edge  of  the  woods.  There  they  were 
met  by  theii'  cajDtain,  who  lost  no  time  in  marshalHng  his 
forces  for  a  grand  assault  on  the  fugitives. 

Forty  Riders,  dismounted,  and  deployed  as  skirmishers, 
were  soon  advancing  on  all  sides  through  the  woods,  like 
savages,  darting  from  tree  to  tree,  and  suiTounding  the  little 
band  of  men  and  boys  in  the  savins  within  an  ever-narrowing 
cu'cle.  The  latter,  as  before,  withheld  their  fire.  "  Let  'em 
come  nearer  ! "  said  Cy.  "  Don't  pull  a  trigger  till  you  are 
dead  sure  of  your  men  I  "  In  the  mean  time,  he  bound  the 
halter  about  the  leg  of  the  wounded  prisoner,  just  above  the 
knee,  to  prevent  him  from  bleeding  to  death ;  while  Carl  and 
the  rest  coolly  pared  and  ate  the  raw  turnips. 

"  By  time  !  "  said  old  Joel,  "  our  little  rumpus  is  raisin' 
the  countiy  !  See  'em  flockin'  over  the  hill  yender,  comin' 
to  helj)  suiTOund  us  !  There'll  be  a  hundred  rebs  poppin'  at 
us  from  behind  the  trees  in  half  an  hour." 

"Yes,  and  in  less  time  than  that!"  said  Fred.  "But 
the  fun  is,  we  can  pop  back." 

"  There  ain't  much  fan  fightin',  though,"  grumbled   old 


INDIAN    WARFARE.  851 

J«el,  "  wlicn  there  ain't  no  longer  no  chance,  not  even  to 
sell  our  lives  dear." 

"  Plenty  of  negatives  in  that  sentence,  but  not  much 
pluck,"  replied  Fred.  "  Why  can't  we  sell  our  lives  dear? 
We've  got  the  carbines,  and  a  little  addition  to  our  stock  of 
powder  and  lead ;  and  you've  your  hatchet  again,  that  does 
such  splendid  execution  !  " 

"  If  any  man  wishes  to  surrender,  now's  his  time.  He 
can  raise  a  white  rag  on  a  stick,  and  put,"  said  Cy.  "  The 
rest  of  us  mean  to  fight  it  out." 

"  Wal,  I  guess  I  better  stick  by,  if  that's  the  decision." 
And  Joel,  having  finished  his  turnip,  took  a  chew  of  tobacco, 
a  liberal  supply  of  that  interesting  weed  having  been  dis- 
covered in  exploring  the  two  rebels'  pockets.  "  By  time, 
don't  that  taste  good  !  I  believe  it's  a  week  since  I've  had 
a  chaw.     I  never  suffered  so  in  my  life  !  " 

"  The  rag  is  coming  from  the  other  side  !  "  laughed  Fred. 
In  fact,  one  of  the  assailants,  with  a  white  handkerchief  on  a 
stick,  was  advancing  cautiously  among  the  trees. 

"  Come  along  !  "  said  Jake.     "  You  sha'n't  be  hurt !  " 

The  flag  of  truce  approached  until  within  twenty  yards  or 
go  of  the  fugitives ;  when  Cy  ordered  it  to  come  no  nearer. 

"  That's  close  enough!  Do  your  Qirand,  and  be  off!  What 
do  you  want  ?  " 


352  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

**  Captain  Gruffley  demands  your  unconditional  surrendef." 

*'  Tell  Captain  Gruffley  he  demands  too  much.  After  re- 
ceiving such  treatment  as  he  got  from  us,  he  might  at  least 
grant  us  some  privileges." 

"  What  privileges  do  you  ask?  " 

Cy  stood  out  from  the  savms,  and  answered  in  a  loud 
voice,  — 

"  We  demand  to  be  paroled,  and  sent  to  the  Union  lines  : 
viQ,  on  our  part,  engage  not  to  bear  arms  again  until  regu- 
larly exchanged.  Give  us  these  terms,  and  pledge  your  honor 
that  not  one  of  our  party  shall  on  any  account  be  detained, 
and  we  yield  ourselves  prisoners  of  war." 

"I  know  Captain  Gruffley  will  not  grant  any  such  con- 
ditions.    You  are  to  surrender  unconditionally." 

''We  know  what  that  means,  "  answered  Cy  in  a  voice 
that  reverberated  through  the  forest.  "  It  means,  we  are  to 
be  shot.  If  we  are  to  die,  we  prefer  to  die  fighting.  Now 
go  back,  or  you'll  be  fired  upon  !  " 

The  flag  of  truce  withdrew,  and  Cy  retreated  into  the 
savins. 

"Boys,"  said  Waterhouse,  ''remember  how  they  served 
Edson  and  his  fellows  in  Kentucky  :  after  they  had  prom- 
ised to  parole  them,  they  took  them  out,  and  shot  them  down, 
and  beat  out  their  brains  like  dogs  !  Don't  trust  the  fiends. 
Lot  them  promise  what  they  will,  don't  trust  'em." 


INDIAN    WARFARE.  353 

"Waterhouse  is  right!"  said  Fred.  "Let's  die  like 
men,  if  we  must;  not  like  dogs." 

The  flag  of  truce,  having  passed  from  sight  over  a  wooded 
knoll,  was  presently  seen  returning. 

'*  Captain  Glruffley  promises  to  spare  your  lives  if  you  sur- 
render without  further  trouble.  If  you  fight  him,  he  swears 
to  hang  every  man  of  you  that  is  taken  alive." 

"Boys,"  said  Cy  solemnly,  —  indeed,  it  was  a  moment 
of  awful  solemnity  to  all,  —  "  shall  we  trust  him  ?  " 

"I  beUeve  they'll  hang  us,  anyway,  if  they  get  us  mto 
their  hands  alive!"  said  Fred.  "They  are  treacherous; 
they'll  promise  any  thing." 

"  That  is  my  opinion.  But,  if  there's  a  man  here  that  wiU 
take  the  bushwhacker's  word,  let  him  step  out  now,  and  try 
hun." 

Not  a  man  stirred. 

"Mr.  Flag,"  then  said  Cy,  "we  have  concluded  not  to 
surrender.  Now  clear  out,  and  don't  bother  us  again.  Go 
and  say  to  Captain  Gruffley,  that,  if  he  or  one  of  his  men 
shows  himself  within  range  of  our  pieces,  he  gets  a  shot !  " 

"  Wait,  wait !  "  cried  Enos  Crumlett,  startmg  up.  "Do 
you  think  they'll  spare  my  life  ?  will  they  spare  mine  ?  I 
hain't  fit,  and  I  ain't  a  fightin'  man  !  " 

"Yes,  they'll  spare  your  life,  I've  no  doubt,"  said  Fred, 

30* 


354  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

**  for  the  sake  of  your  wife  aud  children  !  Gi-uffley  knows 
you  :  go,  and  give  yourself  up." 

"And  he  knows  I  didn't  fight,  don't  he?"  said  Enos 
with  a  gleam  of  hope.  "  Think  they'll  shoot  me  if  I  show 
myself?" 

"  We'll  fire  on  their  flag  of  truce,  if  they  do.  Go  with 
the  flag." 

And  Enos  tremblingly  went. 

"  Good  riddance  !  "  said  Ered. 

*'  Now  comes  the  final  struggle  !  "  added  Cy.  *'  Our 
only  chance  is  in  makmg  it  too  costly  for  the  rascals.  Let 
'em  see  they've  got  to  give  two  or  three  lives  for  one,  and 
we  may  keep  'em  oflf,  and  gain  time.  If  we  Can  hold  our 
own  till  night,  well  and  good  !  " 

"This  carbine  is  jolly!"  chuckled  Fred.  He  sighted 
it  through  the  savins.  He  jvas  a  good  shot;  having  had 
practice  on  the  Illinois  prah-ies,  picking  wild  geese  out  of 
alighted  flocks  with  the  rifle,  and  bringing  down  wild  hens 
on  the  wing  with  the  fowling-piece.  "  I  believe  I  could  put 
my  mark  on  the  patch  of  Mr.  Crumlett's  pantaloons  !  " 

He  was  sustained  by  that  exaltation  of  spirits,  of  which 
those,  whose  souls  have  never  risen  sublimely  above  mortal 
danger,  know  nothing.  Was  this  terrible  hour  his  last? 
He  did  not  stop  to  question.     The  future  ?  —  he  felt  that  the 


IXDIAN    WARFARE.  355 

future  would  take  care  of  itself,  and  that  all  would  be  well 
with  him  if  he  did  his  duty  now.  That  duty  was,  to  defend 
himself  and  his  comrades  to  the  last  against  men  whom  he 
knew  to  be  assassins,  whose  promises  were  good  for  nothing, 
and  in  whose  hands  his  life  would  be  less  safe  than  here 
with  his  fellows  in  their  lair  at  bay.  And  his  mother  ?  — 
something  fearful  swelled  up  in  his  throat  when  he  thought 
of  her ;  but  this  heroic  resolve  came  ever  uppermost :  "She 
shall  know  that  I  died  as  a  boy  of  hers  should ;  she  shall 
be  proud  of  me  !  "  —  and  he  put  all  softer  thoughts  aside. 

They  were  a  determined,  cheerful   company,  all,  —  that 
little  devoted  band  of  comrades  in  the  bush.      Cy  and  Jake 
were  unmarried ;  but  Jake  had  an  aged  mother  dependent  on 
him  for  support :  he  had  not  always  been  as  kind  to  her  as 
he  might  have  been.     Perhaps  he  thought  of  that ;   for  a 
shadow  of  pain  crossed  his  brow.     And  of  whom  did  Cy 
think?  — for  a  strange  expression  of  tenderness  came  into 
that  tanned,  masculine,  eagle-eyed,  handsome  Western  face 
of  his.     Did  he  reaUy  care  for  that  pretty  Httle  prairie  maid 
the  others  joked  him   about?       Care  for  her!— she  was 
all  he  cared  for  now.     And  TVaterhouse  had  a  wife  at  home ; 
and  Parker  and  Weston,  though  both  young,  had  wives  and 
children,— children  playing  at  their  mothers'  knees  at  that 
very  moment,  perhaps!      Carl  had  neither  parent  nor  wife 


356  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

nor  betrotlied  :  yet  there  were  those  he  loved,  —  one  "beauti- 
ful Quaker  girl  above  all,  sister  of  his  beloved  Captain  Hap- 
good  ;  a  tender-eyed,  sweet-mouthed,  mellow-voiced  maiden, 
who  had  smiled  upon  him,  perhaps  only  for  her  brother's  sake, 
yet  whom  he  had  tremblmgly  half  hoped  —  but  no  matter 
now  !  He  carefully  cut  a  bullet  in  quarters  to  make  slugs 
for  his  revolver,  and  occasionally-  took  a  bite  of  his  pared 
turnip. 

Old  Joel,  who  scarcely  knew  whether  he  owned  a  wife  or 
not  (he  had  parted  fi-om  her  and  disowned  her  so  often) ,  was 
the  only  one  who  grumbled;  but  then  he  was  always  a 
grumbler,  happen  what  would. 

Whizz  came  the  ball  of  a  carbine,  aimed,  Indian- 
fashion,  from  behind  a  tree.  It  split  the  stem  of  one  of  the 
little  savins. 

"  I  saw  where  that  came  from  !  "  said  Fred.  "  Let  the 
Rider  show  himself  again,  and  he'll  be  a  tumbler  !  " 

Crack,  crack,  crack  !  and  the  bullets,  all  fii'cd  from  be- 
hind trees,  began  to  come  thick  and  fast.  The  log  under 
which  Enos  had  sheltered  himself  served  as  a  convenient 
breastwork  to  the  Union-boys  now  fighting  on  that  side  of 
their  ambush.  Thoy  could  He  behind  it,  and  thrust  their 
pieces  through  the  bushes,  and  see  a  great  deal  better  than 
they  could  be  seen. 


INDIAN    WARFARE.  357 

Suddenly  a  shot  responded  from  the  savins.  Fred's  car- 
bine spoke.  The  occasion  was  this  :  The  rebel  he  had  dis- 
covered once  more  showed  one  arm  supporting  his  short  rifle, 
one  eye  squinting,  and  one  little  spot  of  forehead  peering 
around  the  trunk.  In  an  instant,  Fred  sighted  him,  and  pulled 
trigger.  The  carbine  scarcely  made  any  report :  it  must 
have  contained  a  very  light  charge ;  but  it  did  its  work. 
The  bushwhacker  did  not  fire  at  all,  but  flung  up  his  hands, 
dropped  his  piece,  and  with  a  faint  yell  plunged  forward,  fall- 
ing headlong  and  heavily  to  the  ground. 

*'  Bully  for  you,  Fred  !  "  said  Jake. 

"Let  every  shot  we  fire  tell  such  a  story  as  that,  and 
there's  a  chance  for  us  !  "  said  Cy.  "  Hello  !  a  pretty  close 
shave  !  "     A  bullet  had  raked  the  top  of  his  cap. 

"  You  can  shoot  so  petter  as  I  can,  Fred,  I  vill  load  vile 
you  fire."  And  Carl,  passing  his  Mend  a  loaded  carbine, 
received  the  discharo;ed  one  in  exchanorc 

Just  then,  a  dozen  of  the  rebels  made  a  dash ;  each  man, 
at  a  signal,  darting  to  gain  the  shelter  of  a  nearer  tree. 
The  movement  was  accomplished  with  such  rapidity,  that  not 
a  shot  was  fired  by  the  Union-boys ;  whose  motto  was,  not  to 
risk  the  wasting  of  a  single  cartridge.  Other  bushwhackers 
followed  the  example  ;  and  the  hunted  fugitives  saw  the  cir- 
cle of  theii-  foes  still  gradually  narrowing.     I  said,  the  circle  : 


358  THE    TEREE    SCOUTS. 

yet  semicii'cle  would  be  the  better  tenn ;  for,  on  the  side  of 
the  open  field,  there  was  not  a  rebel  within  rifle-range. 

Since  Fred  had  brought  down  his  man,  few  shots  had  been 
exchanged. 

"Carl,"  whispered  Fred,  "take  my  cane,  —  it's  on  the 
ledge  there,  —  and  just  lift  up  my  hat  on  it :  see  if  we  can't 
draw  their  fii-e." 

Caii  obeyed  ;  and  presently  might  have  been  seen  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  head,  cautiously  rising  among  the  bushes  as  if  to 
get  a  view  of  the  enemy.  Two  carbines  flashed  in  the  woods, 
and  two  bullets  penetrated  the  hat.  Fred  fired  ;  and  one  of 
the  carbines  was  di-opped  the  instant  it  was  discharged  :  but 
the  rebel  himself  di'ew  back  behind  his  tree. 

"  Never  mind  !  "  said  Fred.  "  I  cut  his  hand  off,  I  can 
swear  !  " 

Whilst  he  was  speaking,  a  bullet,  aimed  at  the  flash  of  his 
piece,  came  buzzing  through  the  boughs  close  by  his  ear. 

"  That  was  a  bob-tailed  slug,  I  know  by  the  hum  !  "  said 
he,  laughing.  "  Damage  any  thing,  Cy?  "  for  Cy  had  fired. 
"  I  winged  him  !  "  Indeed,  Cy  had  taken  his  game  fly- 
ing ;  that  is,  as  the  rebel  was  darting  from  one  tree  to  another. 
The  latter  reached  his  goal,  but  staggeringly,  and  sank  down 
on  the  roots. 

"  A  good  lesson  V"  said  Waterhouse.  '■  They  must  stop 
that  trick  :  they're  near  enough." 


INDIAN     WARFARE.  359 

"  By  time  !  I've  got  it  now  !  "  growled  old  Joel. 
"  And  so  has  the  reb !  I  paid  him  !  "  said  Jake  through 
his  teeth,  pulling  his  smoking  barrel  in  over  the  log,  and  re- 
loading as  he  lay  on  his  back. 

"  Nothing  but  a  flesh-vound,  Joel!  "  said  Carl.  "But 
it  vas  a  mighty  saucy  vun,  by  swow  !  " 

A  bullet  had  raked  the  old  man's  shoulder  and  back, 
as  the  previous  one  had  raked  his  arm ;  but  this  time  the 
inimical  lead  had  ploughed  to  the  bone. 

"  If  the  pesky  critter  hain't  took  up  lodgin's  inside  my 
carcass,  I  don't  keer  !  "  muttered  the  old  man.  "  This 
havin'  to  have  lead  dug  out  of  a  feller  is  wus'n  bein'  shot 
in  the  fust  place,  a  plaguy  sight !  " 

*'  Hold  on  !  "  said  Fred  :  ''  I  see  Gruffley  himself !  If  he 
hadn't  dodged  behind  that  tree  quite  so  quick  —  But  never 
mind  :  he  can't  stay  there  always  !  " 

The  captain  was  quietly  giving  orders  for  a  grand  charge 
by  his  whole  line.  His  men  were  passing  the  word  to  each 
other  from  tree  to  tree ;  when  the  bushwhacking  chief,  who 
didn't  seem  to  realize  the  extent  of  his  great  beard  any  more 
than  a  fashionable  lady  considers  the  sweep  of  her  skuts, 
unconsciously  pushed  the  boundaries  of  the  vast  black  bush 
into  view.  Fred,  thuiking  that,  where  so  much  hair  was, 
there  must  bo  a  little  face,  let  fly  the  waiting  bullet.     It 


360  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

whizzed  through  the  mass,  cutting  close  to  the  ambushed 
jaw.  The  shock,  the  strange  sensation  of  having  his  whiskers 
tweaked  in  that  way  by  an  invisible  leaden  finger,  betrayed 
Captain  Gruffley  into  an  indiscretion.  Dodging  back  hastily 
behind  the  tree,  he  dodged  too  far,  and  exposed  himself  upon 
the  other  side  of  the  trunk.  Fatal  en-or  !  Weston  had  long 
been  waiting  for  a  good  shot,  and  now  he  had  it.  The  bush- 
whacker tumbled  over  backwards  with  scarce  a  groan. 

"  The  Ellsmer  Family  is  avenged  !  "  murmured  Fred. 

"  Not  only  that,  but  we  are  getting  the  best  of  them !  " 
said  Cy. 

"I  haven't  another  cartridge,"  said  Jake.  "  How  is  it 
with  the  rest  of  you  ?  " 

The  ammunition  was  already  half  spent :  that  was,  after 
all,  the  most  distressing  circumstance  in  this  terribly  unequal 
conflict. 

But  now  an  event  occurred  that  put  an  end  to  hope ; 
if,  indeed,  any  there  had  seriously  indulged  a  hope,  that,  by 
resistance  until  night,  they  might  yet  be  saved.  A  distant 
filing  was  heard.  "  Signals  !  "  said  Cy.  It  was  in  the 
du-ection  of  the  hills,  over  which  they  had  seen  the  escaping 
spy  disappear.  Carl  crept  to  the  edge  of  the  savins  over- 
looking the  fields  and  the  country-side,  and  saw  hurrying 
horsemen. 


INDIAN    WARFARE.  361 

"It  is  tbe  re-enforcements  !  "  he  said.  *'  Yat  a  shame  ! 
Vun  company  of  rebs  is  not  enough  to  wanquish  eight  feds ; 
and  so  there  comes  two,  three,  four  companies  !  " 

"  We  have  but  little  time  left,"  said  Cy  solemnly. 
"Fire  now,  boys,  whenever  you  have  a  chance  !  " 
.  "  I  be  blowed  if  ever  I  see  sich  a  slew  of  the  darned 
graybaeks  puttui'  helter-skelter  for  a  Kttle  private  shootin'- 
match  like  this  'ere  !  "  growled  old  Joel ;  who,  feeling  that 
his  wound  entitled  him  to  some  indulgence,  went  to  gratify 
his  curiosity  by  peeping  at  the  enemy's  re-enforcements. 

On  they  came,  pouring  in  a  swarm  through  the  gorge, 
then  scattering  in  every  direction ;  some  keeping  the  road, 
and  others  spurring  across  the  fields. 

"What  in  time  makes  'em  scatter  so?"  grumbled  old 
Joel.  "Don't  the  plaguy  fools  know  no  better'n  that? 
They're  sweepin'  field  and  road  :  only  they  look  more  as 
though  they  was  beui'  swept  themselves  !  There  ain't  no 
discipline  amongst  them  wild  south-western  hoss-jockeys. 
They  jest  know  how  to  ride,  that's  all :  they're  busters  to  ride, 
I  know  !     Hello  !  what's  there  ?  " 

A  column  of  cavalry,  whose  splendid  array  contrasted 
strikingly  with  the  disorderly  body  of  horse  that  had  preceded 
them^  came  pouring  through  the  gorge,  their  arms  glittering 
in  the  sun.     They  crossed  the  valley ;  then,  leaving  the  high- 

31 


3G2  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

ways,  a  portion  of  them  took  to  the  fields,  and  came  thunder- 
ing up  the  slope  directly  towards  the  woods.  Then  Carl  set 
up  a  shout  which  made  the  forest  ring. 

"  Blue-coats,  blue-coats  !  HuiTah^  huiTah  !  "  And  he 
fired  his  horse-pistol  in  the  au\ 

The  rest  heard ;  they  saw ;  they  took  up  the  shout. 
"  Blue-coats,  hurrah  !  "  At  the  same  moment,  the  bush- 
whackers, who  had  some  time  since  ceased  firing,  in  astonish- 
ment, left  their  tree-shelters,  and  fled  in  confusion  throuo^h 
the  woods. 

*'  Hurrah,  hurrah,  hurrah  !  " 

The  boys  leaped  upon  their  feet ;  they  swung  their  hats  ; 
they  made  the  forest  echo  and  re-echo  with  their  wild  shouts 
of  joy.  They  were  answered  by  swinging  sabres,  and  cheers 
from  a  hundred  patriot  throats.  A  minute  later,  they  were 
surrounded  by  their  friends,  —  strangers  all,  personally,  but 
yet  friends ;  for  did  they  not  wear  the  dear  blue  coats  ?  and 
were  they  not  fighting  in  the  just  cause  and  true  ? 

Yet  there  was  one  who  was  not  a  stranger,  —  to  Carl  and 
Fred  at  least.  He  bounded  from  his  horse,  and  clasped  the 
hands  of  both  boys  at  once.  They  were  none  the  less  de- 
lighted to  see  him  because  his  skin  was  black. 

"  Pomp  !  you  dear  old  vcllow  !  "  said  Carl :  "  who  vould 
ever  have  thought  of  seeing  you  ?  " 


TO    NA  SHVILLE.  —  A    SURPRISE.  3G3 


XXXY. 

TO  NASHVILLE.— A    SURPRISE. 

HE  blue  coats  were  worn  by  a  regiment  of  Ohio 
cavalry  belonging  to  General  Stanley's  com- 
mand. That  popular  officer  — ''  gay  old  Stan- 
ley" he  was  filially  called  by  his  men,  though  still  young  — 
was  that  day  (it  is  written  in  history  as  the  11th  of  Decem- 
ber) giving  them  exercise  and  practice  with  their  new  re- 
volving rifles  by  making  a  reconnoissance  in  force,  and  a 
dash  on  the  rebel  lines. 

Pomp  was  acting  as  scout  to  the  expedition.  Mounted 
on  a  magnificent  black  charger,  he  had  done  daring  service 
from  the  start.  Moving  along  the  Franklin  pike  in  strong 
force,  they  had  found  the  enemy  soon  after  passing  the  Fed- 
eral outposts,  and  driven  every  thing  before  them.  They 
were  now  chasing  the  flying  rebels  towards  Triune  and  No- 
lensville ;  watching,  however,  for  the  right  moment  to  wheel, 
and  pounce  upon  the  garrison  at  Franklin. 


864  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

How  Pomp  had  learned  the  situation  of  his  friends  in  the 
woods,  Fred  did  not  ascertain  until  afterwards ;  for  it  was 
Pomp  who  had  guided  the  Ohio  boys  so  opportunely  to  the 
spot.  Captured  horses  were  brought  up,  and  the  rescued 
fugitives  were  speedily  mounted,  —  Fred  with  his  disabled 
foot;  old  Joel  with  his  gashed  shoulder,  clinging  to  his 
hatchet,  and  growling  good-naturedly ;  Carl  and  Cy  and 
the  rest;  all  indeed  but  Enos  Crumlett,  who  was  neatly 
whisked  away  into  captivity  and  tribulation  by  the  rebels,  to 
whom  he  had  unfortunately  been  in  such  haste  to  surrender. 
Of  the  fate  of  this  luckless  Northern  man  with  Southern 
principles,  the  few  words  that  remain  to  be  said  may  as  well 
be  said  here. 

That  he  was  not  hung  on  the  spot  by  the  enraged  gueril- 
las, he  owed  not  at  all  to. their  promise  to  spare  the  lives  of 
those  who  surrendered,  nor  to  the  fact  that  he  was  a  non- 
combatant,  but  simply  and  solely  to  the  prospect  of  a  bribe 
which  he  held  out  to  them.  For  them  to  take  the  lives  of 
their  enemies  was  pleasant ;  but  to  receive  a  heavy  ransom 
was  more  pleasant.  And  to  Enos,  though  money  was  sweet, 
existence  —  even  the  existence  of  a  creature  like  him, 
strange  as  it  may  seem  —  was  sweeter.  So  he  pledged  his 
house,  his  land,  every  thing,  to  raise  the  feaifd  sum  of 
THREE  THOUSANn  DOLLARS,  to  givc  in  exchange  for  his  life. 


TO    NASHVILLE.-A    SURPRISE.  365 

A  week  afterwards,  he  was  permitted  to  return  home,  in 
order  to  pay  the  first  instalment  (two  hundred  dollars),  and 
to  make  preparations  for  paying  the  rest.  Poor  Matilda, 
who  had  given  him  up  for  lost,  was  wild  with  joy  at  sight  of 
him.  But,  when  she  learned  the  price  he  was  to  pay  for  him- 
self, she  angrily  declared  that  it  was  the  silliest  bargain  he 
ever  made.  She  seemed  to  think,  that,  if  he  had  been  shrewd, 
he  ought  to  have  let  the  rebels  take  his  life,  and  to  have 
chuckled  the  while  at  the  smart  "  speculation;"  giving  them 
a  thing  so  worthless  in  place  of  the  substantial  three  thou- 
sand dollars  they  had  named  as  an  equivalent.  But  Fortune, 
which  favors  the  brave,  sometimes  does  not  forget  the  mean 
and  cowardly.  Enos  paid  the  first  instalment  of  his  ransom 
immediately ;  but  before  January,  when  he  was  to  pay  the 
rest,  occurred  the  battle  of  Stone  Biver,  —  or  rather  the  week 
of  battles,  —  by  which,  after  days  of  terrible  conflict  and  ter- 
rible slaughter,  Bragg's  magnificent  army  was  driven  back 
from  its  strong  position,  and  the  rebel  power  in  Tennessee 
broken.  The  Crumlett  Family  woke  up  one  morning,  and 
found  themselves,  to  their  great  delight,  inside  the  advan- 
cing Union  lines.  Enbs  became  at  once  a  devoted  "  Union 
man  from  the  start,"  and  he  had  heart-rending  tales  to  tell 
of  his  sufferings  and  losses  in  the  good  cause.  These  pa- 
thetic narratives  procured  him  some  indulgences  from  those 

31* 


366  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

in  authority ;  so  that  he  rapidly  repaked  his  fortunes.  He 
has  since  developed,  natui'ally  and  easily,  into  the  character 
which,  no  doubt,  Heaven  designed  him  to  be,  —  a  prosperous 
Grovemment  contractor  and  speculator  in  the  misfortunes  of 
war. 

Stanley's  force  pursued  the  enemy  beyond  Triune,  de- 
stroying two  camps,  and  capturing  a  few  horses  and  men ; 
and  bivouacked  that  night  seven  miles  west  of  Mmfrees- 
borough.  The  next  morning,  they  carried  out  their  original 
design  of  an  attack  on  Franklin,  captui*ed  the  place,  put  the 
ganison  to  flight,  took  a  number  of  prisoners,  destroyed  a 
flouring-miU,  and  returned  —  having  made  a  brilliant  and 
successful  reconnoissance,  without  the  loss  of  a  man  —  to 
report  to  E-osecrans. 

In  the  mean  time,  soon  after  the  rescue,  Fred  and  his 
companions,  together  with  a  handful  of  prisoners,  under  a 
sufficient  escort,  had  been  sent  oflf  to  Nashville.  Pomp, 
despatched  as  a  courier,  accompanied  them.  They  reached 
the  city  in  the  middle  Of  the  afternoon,  as  jovial  a  set  of 
fellows  as  ever  were  seen  returning  safe  and  whole,  after 
all  the  hardships  and  horrors  of  a  flight  from  captivity  and 
death  in  an  enemy's  country. 

And  now  the  time  came  for  Fred  to  separate  temporarily 
from  his  old  comrades ;  for  they  were  going  to  the  provost- 


TO    NASHVILLE.-A    SURPRISE. 


3G7 


mai-shal's;   and  Pomp,  for  a  pailicular  reason,  wished  to  take 
liim,  with  Carl,  to  the  office  of  the  anny-pohce. 

"  Good-by,  boys  !  See  you  soon.  Be  with  you  at  the  front 
again  in  a  few  days.  My  foot  is  almost  well  abeady ! " 
(Joy  had  cui^ed  that.)  "  Don't  go  to  the  hospital  if  you 
can  help  it,  Joel :  I  sha'u't !  " 

-  Blast  the  hospital !  "  growled  old  Joel.  "  I  want  to  git 
back  to  the  rigunent  agin :  that's  all  I  ax  !  " 

As  he  emphasized  the  word  ax  with  a  flourish  of  the 
hatchet,  all  the  boys  laughed  ;  and  so  they  parted. 

"  A  good  old  soul,  but  as  odd  as  Dick's  hat-band  !  "  said 
Fred-,  gazing  after  his  comrades  with  affectionate,  earnest  eyes. 
"  And  what  a  splendid  fellow  Cy  is  !  He'll  go  to  Congi-ess 
some  day,  I'll  bet !  I've  known  him  for  years.  I  only  found 
out  to-day  what  a  man  is  inside  his  clothes  !  And  Jake  — 
glorious  Jake !  I  am  filled  with  remorse  to  think  I  ever 
called  him  lazy  !  " 

Pomp  had  galloped  on  before  the  arriving  party,  and  de- 
livered "gay  old  Stanley's"  despatch  at  Eosecrans's  head- 
quarters; and  he  now  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  accompany 
the  boys.  At  the  office  of  the  army-police  they  dismounted, 
and  Fred  entered,  leaning  on  Carl's  shoulders  ;  for  joy  had 
not  quite  cured  his  sprain,  after  all.  They  were  shown  into 
a  private  room,  where  the  two  boys  sat  down  and  waited. 


368  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Pomp  went  out,  and  in  a  little  while  the  "colonel"  came 
in. 

He  was  delighted  at  the  sight  of  Carl ;  and  he  qnestioned 
both  boys  closely  with  regard  to  all  they  had  seen  in  Dixie. 
They  had  brought  important  infonnation  with  regard  to  the 
rebel  forces  at  Shelbyville  :  and  Carl,  moreover,  was  enabled 
to  lay  before  him  a  complete  exposition  of  all  the  smuggling 
operations  canied  on  by  "  Joseph,"  and  his  associates  North 
and  South  ;  an  exposition  which,  it  may  here  be  said,  led  to 
the  speedy  interniption  of  those  operations  by  the  national 
authorities,  the  aiTCst  of  several  of  the  gang,  and  the  confisca- 
tion of  their  goods. 

But,  when  Carl  proceeded  to  relate  his  adventures  in  Mur- 
freesborough,  the  colonel  interposed  with  a  smile,  — 

"  Never  mind  about  that  now.  I  know  more  of  what  you 
saw  there,  and  of  much  that  you  only  suspected,  than 
you  suppose.  —  As  for  you,  my  plucky  young  friend,"  — 
pressing  Fred's  hand  cordially,  —  "I  sympathize  with  you  in 
all  you  have  suffered  in  connection  with  that  strange  man, 
Daniels ;  but  I  have  a  bit  of  good  news  for  you,  that  will 
make  you  forget  all  that.     Your  mother  "  — 

"My  mother!"  echoed  Fred  with  a  start:  "you  have 
heard  from  her?  " 

"Better   than   that,"    said  the  pleasant  colonel.     "The 


TO    NASHVILLE.  — A     SURPRISE.  369 

morning  you  were  captured,  word  was  sent  to  her  tliat  you 
were  wounded.  It  proved  to  be  another  that  had  the  wound ; 
but  the  mistake  had,  as  it  now  turns  out,  happy  conse- 
quences." 

**  She  came  on  !  she  is  here  !  "  said  Fred,  trembling  with 
joyous  excitement. 

"Exactly;  and  as  you  are  lame,  and  couldn't  very  well 
go  and  find  her,  I  told  Pomp  she  had  better  come  and  find 
you.     Come  in,  Pomp  !  " 

It  was  indeed  Pomp's  face  at  the  door.  But  Fred  saw 
p.lso  another  face,  to  him  the  dearest  in  the  world,  — a  face 
beaming  with  love  and  rapture,  with  joy  and  tears,  —  his 
mother's.     In  a  moment  he  was  in  her  arms. 

"My  boy,  my  boy!  "  was  all  she  could  utter,  as  she 
snatched  him  to  her  lips  and  fluttering  heart. 

As  for  Fred,  he  could  not  say  a  word,  but  just  flung  his 
arms  about  her,  laid  his  face  upon  her  neck,  and  sobbed  with 
excess  of  joy.  It  was  such  a  little  while  ago  that  he  gave 
up  all  hope  of  ever  seeing  her  again  in  this  world;  and 
now  here  she  was  !  Oh  !  Grod  was  certainly  good  to  him ;  and 
well  might  he  feel  now  such  gTatitude  and  blessed  happiness 
as  he  had  never  in  all  his  Hfe  felt  before. 

"  My  child,  my  Alfred !     Heaven  has  given  you  to  me 


370  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

again !     And  he  lias  given   me  something   more.     0    Al- 
fred!  look!  this  is"  — 

, Along  with  Pomp  and  Mrs.  Kivers  had  entered  a  third 
person,  whom  Fred,  overcome  by  the  sight  of  his  mother, 
had  not  observed.  But  now  he  looked  up ;  and  a  shadow 
swept  over  him  ;  an  icy  chill  contracted  his  heart :  for  he  saw 
standing  before  him,  bronzed  and  calm  and  bland,  smiling 
upon  mother  and  son,  Daniels  the  spy. 


THE    SPY.  871 


XXXVI. 

THE     SPY. 

Y  father !  I  know  it !  "  said  Fred  in  a  hollow 
voice,  shrinking  back,  and  coldly  declining  the 
man's  proffered  hand. 

Daniels  —  or  rather  ^Ir.  Rivers,  as  we  must  call  him  now 
—  received  this  rebufl  with  perfect  equanimity ;  still  extend- 
ing his  hand,  and  smiling  proudly,  even  affectionately,  upon- 
the  spirited  hoy. 

"Alfred,  my  son!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Rivers,  "you  do 
not  know  !  —  it  is  he  who  saved  your  life  !  " 

"I  know  that  too  !  "  said  Fred,  in  a  voice  that  ill  con- 
cealed the  indignation,  grief,  and  shame  that  convulsed  his 
heart ;  "  and,  at  the  same  time,  he  betrayed  my  friends  !  " 

Still  Mr.  Rivers  did  not  speak :  he  continued  to  smile,  with 
hand  extended,  and  with  the  same  look  of  paternal  love  and 
pride.     But  Mrs.  Rivers  exclaimed,  — 

"  Betrayed  them?    On  the  contrary,  it  was  he  who  rode  to 


372  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

meet  the  Union  cavalry,  and  told  Pomp  just  where  to  find 
you!" 

"And,  moreover,  it  belongs  to  me  to  inform  you,"  said 
the  colonel,  laying  his  hand  kindly  upon  Fred's  shoulder, 
"  that  you  have  quite  misunderstood  certain  things.  Even 
Carl  here,  shrewd  as  he  is,  has  been  —  well,  a  little  too 
shrewd  !  " 

"I've  been  shtoopider  as  my  mule !  "  broke  forth  Carl, 
throwing  up  his  hands  with  gestures  of  dismay.  "  Vas  ever 
such  ?  I  shall  vake  up  to-morrow  vith  ears  a  foot  long ! 
Give  me  some  bags  to  get  into  and  hide  !  " 

"Why,  Carl,"  laughed  the  colonel,  "what's  the  mat- 
ter?" 

' '  I  made  such  a  plunder  !  It  vas  bogus  maps  he  vas 
showing  the  rebs,  ven  I  spotted  him  for  a  spy  !  " 

"Maps  I  gave  him  myself,"  added  the  colonel.  "But 
the  conclusion  you  came  to  was  perfectly  natural,  and  you 
acted  altogether  right  afterwards.  The  truth  is,  I  have  in 
this  room  here  now  three  of  my  very  best  scouts.  You  have 
proved  yourself  worthy  to  be  called  one,  Carl.  Pomp,  in  his 
way,  is  unequalled.  But  the  man  who  has  really  rendered 
us  the  most  extensive  and  valuable  service  is  —  Yiy.  Dan- 
iel S.  Rivers!" 

Scarcely  changing  a  feature,  but  smilmg  still,  and  still  ex- 


THE    SPY.  Si'S 

tending  his  hand,  the  noted  scout  waited  patiently  for  Fred  io 
recognize  him  in  his  true  character.  And  Fred,  Hstening, 
o-azino:,  wonderins;,  — bewildered  and  incredulous  at  first,  but 
his  doubts  clearino;  and  his  mind  convinced  at  last,  —  bent 
forward  with  a  sudden  impulse,  penitent  but  overjoyed, 
clasped  the  hand,  and  pressed  it  to  his  lips. 

"0  my  father!  forgive  me!"  he  exclaimed.  "I  was 
wrong ;  but  I  loved  you  all  the  while  !  " 

"  Did  you,  my  boy  ?  I  believe  so  ! "  said  Mr.  Rivers, 
drawing  him  to  his  bosom  as  fondly  as  when  they  lay  that 
night  in  the  pine-woods  under  the  same  blanket.  "  But  let 
me  tell  you  that  I  have" nothing  to  forgive.  You  and  Carl 
and  the  rest  did  only  your  duty." 

**  Oh!  but  why  didn't  you  tell  us  how  it  was?  it  would 
have  saved  so  much  !  " 

"  That,  indeed,  I  should  have  done,  before  permitting  you 
quite  to  hang  me  up !  In  fact,  I  was  on  the  point  of  ex- 
plaining every  thing  when  you  captui'ed  Captain  Gruffley.  I 
had  become  a  pretended  spy  in  the  rebel  service,  against  my 
will,  and  in  order  to  save  my  life,  when  I  was  once  scouting 
for  our  army ;  and,  after  that,  I  found  it  necessary  to  keep 
up  the  chai'acter  whenever  I  entered  the  rebel  lines.  I  was 
able,  by  that  means,  to  gain  a  great  deal  of  information  which 
could  not  otherwise  have  been  obtained ;  but,  at  the  same 

32 


374  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

time,  I  was  obliged  to  use  tlie  utmost  caution  to  prevent  my 
real  business  from  being  discovered.  I  made  it  a  rule  to  in- 
trust absolutely  no  one  with  my  secret ;  and  many  a  time  I 
have  passed  for  a  reprobate  with  good  Union  men,  rather  than 
give  them  a  hint  that  I  was  different  from  what  I  seemed." 

"  Oh  !  but  oui'  fellows  would  have  kept  your  secret  sacred 
as  the  grave  !  " 

**  Yery  likely,  and  yet  possibly  not.  Suppose  they  had 
been  recaptured,  as  seemed  inevitable  at  one  time,  and  had 
afterwards,  in  some  fit  of  disgust  and  despair,  concluded  that 
I  Mid  deceived  them :  do  you  think  they  might  not  have 
flung  out  something  which  would  have  led  to  my  being  sus- 
pected by  the  rebels,  especially  since  I  had  run  some  risks 
in  rescuing  you  ?  Gruffley  was  beginning  to  distnist  me  :  I 
found  that  out  when  I  stole  down  the  hill  before  day-break  to 
have  a  talk  with  him.  My  object  was  to  ascertain  his  object 
in  being  there,  and  to  learn  his  plans.  But  he  was  so  close, 
I  could  get  nothing  out  of  him.  For  that  reason,  I  did  not 
think  it  useful  to  tell  you  I  had  seen  him." 

*'  And  you  did  not  guide  the  rebels  to  attack  our  pickets 
that  morning?  " 

"  Quite  the  contrary.  It  was  several  hours  after  I  entered 
the  rebel  camp  that  I  first  heard  that  an  attack  was  meditated. 
I  was  sent  for  to  consult  with  the  leaders.     I  did  my  best  to 


THE    SP  Y.  375 

dissuade  thcra  from  it;  but,  finding  them  determined,  I  re- 
solved to  accompany  them,  and  see  that  no  harm  came  to  you. 
I  also  hoped  to  be  able  to  get  the  start  of  them,  and  warn 
your  pickets;  but  theu'  excessive  precautions  rendered  that 
impossible." 

"Oh!  I  am  so  glad!"  exclaimed  Fred.  "And  you 
have  truly  been  a  Union  man  all  along  ?  " 

"  From  the  beginning,  my  boy.  And  now  I  will  tell  you 
more.  I  was  once  an  uncompromising  proslavery  man,  as 
your  mother  here  knows  too  well ;  and  I  never  had  my  eyes 
fully  opened  to  the  evils  of  the  institution,  until,  of  late  years, 
the  subject  of  secession  began  to  be  agitated.  Then  I  found 
that  slavery  had  besotted  the  moral  sense  of  the  South ;  that, 
for  its  sake,  men  who  prided  themselves  on  then-  high  and 
stainless  honor  were  ready  to  do  the  most  dishonorable 
things.  Whatever  was  done  in  behalf  of  the  favorite  institu- 
tion was  considered  right,  even  to  the  overthrow  of  the  most 
beneficent  Government  on  earth,  and  the  plunging  of  their 
country  into  civil  war.  Then  I  remembered,  and  found 
true,  many  things  your  mother  had  said  to  me  in  days  when 
that  was  the  only  great  subject  we  differed  upon,  —  the  source 
of  all  our  unhappiness.  Yes,  my  boy  :  I  say  it  to  you  now, 
as  I  have  already  said  it  to  her,  I  discovered,  when  too  late, 
that  I  had  been  wrong,  and  that  she  had  been  right  all  the 


376  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

time.  I  lived  in  a  neighborhood  of  violent  secessionists ; 
and,  as  soon  as  it  was  well  known  that  I  had  decided  to 
stand  for  the 'Union  at  all  hazards,  their  persecution  began. 
I  foresaw  all  that  has  taken  place  since  in  those  regions  of 
guerillas  and  assassins  :  so  I  kept  quiet  as  possible  until  T 
liad  perfected  a  plan  for  freeing  my  slaves ;  then  with  them 
I  abandoned  every  thing,  and  escaped  to  the  Union  camps. 
Since  then  I  have  devoted  body  and  mind  and  soul  to  defeat 
the  designs  of  the  traitors ;  and  have,  even  as  you  have  seen, 
been  willing  to  pass  as  a  spy  in  their  employment,  in  order  to 
discover  and  thwart  theii'  own  plans.  I  hoped  to  do  my 
country  some  worthy  service ;  and  I  hoped  too,  in  that  way, 
to  prove  to  your  mother  how  sincerely  I  repented  of  my  past 
errors  of  opinion,  and  the  wrong  I  have  done  her.  A  won- 
derful Providence  has  brought  us  together  here  :  she  was 
hunting  for  you,  and  found  me.  She  has  forgiven  me. 
Hiive  you?  " 

All  this  was  said  with  the  ah'  of  a  fi-ank,  generous,  and 
manly  nature,  avowing  faults  of  the  past,  and  standing 
calm  and  grand  for  the  truth  now  and  for  evermore.  Mrs. 
Rivers's  fine  and  noble  face  beamed  with  inexpressible  pride 
and  happiness,  and  Fred  was  fairly  intoxicated  with  delight. 

"  But  Alfred  is  suffering  with  his  foot !  Let  us  take  him 
home,"  said  Mrs.  Rivers. 


THE    SPY.  377 

**  Never  mind  the  foot!  But  what  do  you  mean  by 
home?" 

"  We  will  show  you,"  said  his  father. 

There  was  a  mutual  happy  understanding  between  his 
parents,  which  puzzled  Fred.  "Were  they  taking  him  to  his 
father's  home  in  Kentucky,  or  to  his  mother's  home  in 
Illinois  ? 

"  Any  thing  but  the  hospital !  "  said  he. 

**  You  shall  have  no  hospital  except  our  own  house,  and  no 
nui'se  but  your  mother  !  "  replied  Mr.  Kivers. 

"  But  where  is  Carl?  and  Pomp?  " 

They  had  delicately  withdrawn  during  the  boy's  interview 
with  his  parents.  He  found  them  at  the  door.  There  was 
also  at  the  door  a  carriage,  which  had  brought  his  mother  and 
father  to  the  army  police-office,  and  was  waiting  to  take  them 
away  again. 

"  Go  with  us,  can't  you?  "  cried  Fred,  loath  to  part  with 
his  tried  friends,  although  he  had  found  those  who  were 
dearer  than  any  friends. 

*'I  should  be  wery  happy,"  replied  Carl,  with  a  sturdy 
grip  of  the  hand ;  "  but  I  must  go  find  my  captain,  and  see 
vat  news  "  —  what  made  him  pause  and  blush  so  ?  Was  it 
news  from  Penn  Hapgood's  beautiful  Quaker  sister  he  was 
so  eager  to  obtain?  —  *'  news  from  the  regiment,  you  know  ! " 
he  added  with  a  droll  smile. 

32* 


378  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

"You  don't  regret  your  little  scouting  expedition,  do 
you?  "  said  Mr.  Eivers. 

"Ye  had  some  shport!"  Carl  answered.  "And  I  vill 
show  you,  Fred,  vat  the  colonel  has  just  shlipped  into  my 
vist."     It  was  a  fifty-dollar  "  greenback." 

lie  was  evidently  veiy  proud,  not  of  the  money,  but  of 
the  fact  that  his  sei*vices  were  thus  appreciated.  "  Yoseph 
said  I  shall  make  much  money,"  he  added  with  a  smile. 
"  The  colonel  says  I  must  take  this  horse  too,  to  make  up  for 
the  walue  of  the  vun  I  lost "  (it  was  the  captured  animal 
which  he  had  ridden  into  Nashville).     "  So  now  goot-py  !  " 

He  mounted,  and  rode  cheerily  away  :  not  that  he  parted 
from  Fred  and  Pomp  without  regret,  but  that  his  anticipa- 
tions of  a  speedy  meeting  with  his  beloved  captain,  and  of 
getting  news  from  —  the  regiment,  overshadowed  every  other 
consideration. 

"  But  you  are  going  with  us.  Pomp  ?"  said  Fred. 

"I'll  be  your  coachman,  I  reckon/'  the  negro  answered, 
measuring  out  the  reins. 

"  Oh !  if  we  could  only  stop  at  the  provost-marshal's  a 
minute,  and  tell  the  boys  !  " 

"  That  we  can  do,  Alfred,"  §aid  Mr.  Rivers.  "  I  should 
like  to  see  them  a  minute  myself." 

Pomp    reined  up    to  the  door  of   the    provostrmarshal's 


THE    SPY.  379 

office,  and,  bounding  to  the  ground,  ran  in  to  inform  Cy  and 
his  companions  that  he  had  caught  the  spy. 

**  Good  on  your  head,  old  fellow  !  "  ejaculated  Jake. 

**  By  time  !  where  is  he  ?  "  growled  old  Joel,  grasping  his 
hatchet. 

"  At  the  door  :  come  and  identify  him,  some  of  you." 

All  went;  all  identified  the  man  they  had  tried,  con- 
demned, and  nearly  hung :  and  gi-eat  was  the  astonishment 
of  all  when  they  saw  his  wife  with  him  and  his  son,  and 
leai-ned  the  truth. 

*'  I  was  never  so  glad  to  know  I  had  made  a  fool  of  ray- 
self!  "  exclaimed  Cy,  cordially  shaking  the  hand  of  his  late 
prisoner.  "IMrs.  Rivers,  I  am  rejoiced  to  see  you,  and  to 
congratulate  you !  " 

"  All  I  have  to  say  is,  that  you'll  see  me  turn  somersets 
to  the  moon,  before  I  ever  set  on  a  court-martial  again  !  "  de- 
clared Jake.  "This  justice  is  ticklish  business,  after  all; 
ain't  it,  Cy?" 

Only  old  Joel,  who  would  never  acknowledge  himself  to 
be  in  the  wrong,  grumbled,  and  shook  his  head,  and  threw 
out  dark  hints  that  all  was  not  yet  as  it  should  be.  Mr. 
Kivers  laughed. 

"  Well,  my  friends,"  said  he,  *'I  think  you  were  a  little 
hasty  and  over-zealous ;  but  you  were  very  excusable,  under 


380  THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

the  cii-cumstances.  I  shall  be  happy  to  meet  you  all  at  my 
house,  and  have  an  opportunity  to  thank  you  for  your  kind- 
ness to  my  son  here,  and  also  to  give  you  some  useful  hints 
with  regard  to  conducting  a  court-martial !  " 

"  Your  business  with  the  rebels  is  no  secret  now?"  Cy 
queried. 

"  No  ;  for  I  think  my  usefulness  in  that  Ime  has  terminat- 
ed with  this  last  adventure.  .  I  still  remam  in  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Government,  however.  I  have  taken  a  house  in 
the  city,  where,  as  I  said,  you  will  all  be  welcome.  Drive 
on.  Pomp!  " 

Fred  swung  his  hat  at  his  comrades  as  he  rode  away,  and 
they  cheered  him  in  return.  A  short  drive  took  the  caiTiage 
to  the  door  of  an  elegant  residence,  where  Mr.  Rivers, 
jumped  down,  and  helped  his  wife  to  ahght.  He  then  took 
Fred  in  his  arms,  and  carried  him  gayly  up  the  steps. 

"  What !  is  this  our  home  ?  "  cried  the  dehghted  boy. 

"  For  the  present,  and  probably  as  long  as  the  army  re- 
mains at  Nashville.  It  is  one  of  those  fine  houses  which  our 
rebellious  relatives  have  vacated,  and  left  ready  furnished  for 
our  accommodation.  In  consideration  of  my  services,  which 
I  have  hitherto  refused  to  receive  pay  for.  Government  has 
placed  all  this  at  our  disposal."  And,  the  door  being  opened 
by  a  black  servant,  jMr.  Rivers  took  Fred  in,  and  showed 
him  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  their  new  home. 


THE    SPY.  381 

"  0  mother!  isn't  this  tip-top!  "  exclaimed  Fred,  over- 
flowing with  gratitude  and  happiness.  "  I  am  almost  glad  I 
am  lame,  so  that  I  can  stay  a  little  while  with  you  !  " 

Fred's  "  little  while  "  became  a  long  while.  It  was  weeks 
before  he  was  able  to  walk  without  lameness.  The  result  was, 
that  he  never  returned  to  his  regiment.  Through  his  father's 
influence,  he  obtained  an  appointment  on  the  staflf  of  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  young  ofiicers  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land ;  and  he  has  since  distinguished  himself  on  many  a  hard- 
fought  field. 

His  parents,  so  happily  re-united,  have  scarcely  been  sep- 
arated since ;  for  while  Mr.  Rivers  follows  the  army,  being 
now  at  the  head  of  one  of  its  most  important  departments,  his 
wife  accompanies  him,  devoting  her  life  to  the  welfare  of  the 
wounded  soldiers,  —  one  of  those  noble  missionaries  of  the 
hospitals,  whose  good  deeds  shall  not  be  forgotten  either  in 
this  world  or  the  next. 

Carl  has  not  been  out  on  any  very  extensive  scouting  ex- 
peditions of  late.  Not  so  Pomp :  where  services  of  that 
sort,  involving  greatest  danger  and  hardship,  are  to  be  per- 
formed, there  the  fearless  and  sagacious  black  scout  is  to  be 
found. 

THE      END. 


\4 


IW  ii 


p) 


7> 


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COLLECTION 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

CHAPEL  HILL 

Wilmer 
1091 


